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Poland track camp targets young athletes
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .First-grader Van Blasko (left) learned how to throw discus from the instructions given by Poland Seminary High School's Jacob Morell. High school track members worked with the elementary students in 10 different track stations.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland Track Camp participants stayed busy the whole day. During water breaks, students hula-hooped to keep their muscles warm and ready for the next physical activity.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Poland students warmed up before they began the activities for Track Camp. The camp was from June 28 through July 2.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Third-graders had an opportunity to race in relay teams and pass the baton to their teammate at Track Camp. This was the camp's first year.
Over 90 Poland youth got their track careers out the gates early by attending the high school’s fifth annual Track and Field Summer Camp June 28-July 2.
Students entering kindergarten through seventh-grade participated in the camp, which was intended to expose students to the sport at a young age.
Campers rotated through 10 stations that focused on speed, form, strength conditioning and foot quickness. They learned how to begin a race from starting blocks, pass a baton to teammates, the proper form for jumping hurdles and how to throw shot put and discus.
The camp was held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. with little time for breaks. Students participated in activities such as hula-hooping and push-ups during their water breaks. High school track and cross country team members volunteered to coach the students at the different stations.
Track Camp coordinator Kim Grisdale said students are introduced to other sports such as basketball and football as soon as they begin school. Since students can’t join the track team until middle school, the sport hasn’t been publicized like other sports.
Grisdale and track coach Ryan Williams decided it was time to make students excited about track and give them something to look forward to.
“It’s a nice way to encourage kids to come out for middle school track and to continue on to high school track,” Grisdale said.