NORTH COUNTY —— Two North County high school students have qualified to compete for a spot on the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad team by testing in the top 20 out of 908 national competitors.

The national team will head to Taiwan in July for the 37th annual International Chemistry Olympiad.

The two local contenders are Taylor Yi, 16, a sophomore at Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District, and sophomore Henry Tung,16, who attends Torrey Pines High School in the San Dieguito Union High School District.

"I was sort of surprised when I first got it," Henry said. I'm happy for getting it."

The exams that got the duo this far are sponsored by the University of San Diego and the American Chemical Society's local chapter.

Taylor and Henry were first winnowed down from more than 11,000 students nationwide in a preliminary two-hour chemistry exam, said Debbie Tahmassebi, an assistant chemistry professor at the University of San Diego.

The students then took a six-hour exam that consisted of multiple-choice and short questions, and a laboratory portion. The students were given a specific question and lab materials but no formula to find the answer.

"It's tough because it's pretty fast-paced," Taylor said. "It's very involved."

Taylor said he got his first taste of chemistry in the eighth grade and wanted more. "I thought it was kind of interesting, so last year I took AP (advanced placement) chemistry," he said, adding that chemistry is "relatively easy" for him.

Taylor was the only freshman to take advanced placement chemistry last year, said his Westview High teacher Scott Halander. Not many students bypass first-year chemistry and go into the college-level course, he said.

Qualifying for the national team is "terrific news," Halander said of his student. "It's a wonderful accomplishment, especially for someone his age. And he was close to making it last year as a freshman."

At Torrey Pines High School in Carmel Valley, Henry is finishing his first course in chemistry.

"He's sort of a sponge. He just sort of soaks things up," said Victoria Coordt, Henry's advanced placement chemistry teacher. "It will be exciting to see what he does, because he could do anything."

Henry said the subject seems to come pretty easily for him.

"I don't study too much usually," Henry said. "I just practiced once (for the last exam) just to get a feel for it. … (But) I'll try my hardest to get in the top four," which would put him on the national team.

Henry and Taylor will compete for the national chemistry team by attending the U.S. National Chemistry Study Camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy from June 5 to 19. The camp involves intensive studying, lab work and exams. If the two place in the top four, they will represent the U.S. at the 37th annual International Chemistry Olympiad competition in Taiwan in July.

Competition organizers say it's rare to have two students from the same area place —— especially sophomores. Tahmassebi said if Taylor and Henry don't make the cut this year, they can compete again next year.

"So they have a pretty darn good chance to make it in the top four," she said. "This is unusual (for their age)."

The duo will be honored tonight at a banquet at the University of San Diego with their parents. Taylor is the son of Yan Gao and George Yi of Sabre Springs. Henry is the son of Henti and Peisha Tung of Torrey View.

Contact staff writer Adrienne A. Aguirre at (760) 740-3526 or aaguirre@nctimes.com.