Division 1 & Olympic athletes help train youth in Albany Recreation & Parks’ Track and Field Clinic

ALBANY, Ga. – In a dynamic move to empower the next generation of athletes, the Albany Recreation & Parks Department prepare for their inspiring, Youth Track and Field Clinic.

The Albany Recreation & Parks Department will be hosting their Youth Track & Field Clinic at Hugh Mills Stadium, this Saturday, October 28th from 10 am to 12 pm. This upcoming event promises to be a game-changer for young talents in Albany, as the ARPD aim to assist in unlocking their full athletic potential.

“First of all, it’s getting kids moving and getting kids active, allowing them to meet a potential future for themselves. A lot of kids like to run, they enjoy running, it’s easy work, just get outside and go. But, there are a lot of techniques, there are a lot of forms to learn about the sport of track and field,” said Bert Bacon, athletic manager, Albany Recreation & Parks.

Young participants will have the privilege of gaining valuable insights and honing their track and field skills under the expert guidance of former division 1 and Olympic athletes.

“We’ve got three former athletes from division 1, out of University of Florida to be exact. They have all conquered and have been all-Americans in their sports. We have one who is specialized in sprinting, we have another who is specialized in relay races, and another who is specialized in triple jump and long jump. They have all committed their time to come and help us train. So, this clinic will give them an opportunity to meet former division 1 athletes and former Olympians, and give them the pointers that they need to be better in the sport of track,” said Bacon.

Bert Bacon, Albany Recreation & Parks’ athletic manager, delves into the significance of youth engagement in running, emphasizing the numerous benefits that this sport brings.

“Everything that we do, except for maybe golf, includes running. So, track & field, the basics, the forms, the techniques you create and you learn, they can be applied to any sport that you play. Now, what it also does is that it allows every child to be a part of a sport, this one doesn’t cost as much as some of the others. It is not as costly for some of our families to come outside and run. So, you are getting kids active, you are getting them competitive. Kids are competitive, they will get out and street race to the street lights if you let them. So, those are the things that we want to encourage to be a part of. Also, building healthy attitudes. Of course, we live in a world where child obesity is major. So, if we get more and more kids running and learning to have the lifestyle of running, then we create a better child, and a better adult eventually,” said Bacon.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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