Athlete of the week: Trent George

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) - Five Western Mass athletes won indoor track state titles. Mahar's Trent George won two. George is the 22News athlete of the week.

"I was a little nervous coming into the meet", says George.

It wasn't nerves that got to him. George had a sinus infection and was sick the night before the state finals. The day of the Division IV Indoor Track Championships,  George went out and set two school records.  In the 300 meter dash and the long jump, which in the indoor season he doesn't get to practice much.

"Actually when I was going through the air it felt pretty good", says the Mahar junior.  He adds, "I knew I went pretty far and as soon as I hit the sand I looked back and knew I went pretty far."

George, who competed in the indoor season for the first time this year, added a foot and a half to his longest jump of the season. 

"It means a lot to me, I wasn't really expecting to win all this stuff and get this much attention, but I guess when you try hard in practice, this is what you get", says George.

Just a few weeks ago, all this didn't seem possible. George's parents grounded him, forcing him to miss the Western Mass meet. After a meeting with his parents and coaches, George adjusted his attitude.

"They tell me if I come out and do track and prove a lot of things, then I can go to a good school for college", says George.

George admits his mistakes, and now sees first hand how hard work pays off.

"Things changed a lot since then, I think I'm a better kid", says George.

At the All-State meet, George finished 5th in the 300 meter dash and 16th in the long jump.