SRAC Launch New Athletics Initiative

The Norwich Union Star Track initiative is an excellent introduction to athletic events for young athletes aged 8-15. The scheme is designed to bring together all forms of athletics in an enjoyable manner. The Star Track initiative is based on a system similar to the decathlon where athletes gain points for achieving a level of proficiency at different events. The point’s score is then totalled and allocated against one of ten awards with gold being the highest.

Thirty-seven enthusiastic youngsters from all over Lewis have so far taken part in the programme that takes place on Thursday nights at 6.30 on the running track at Smith Avenue. SRAC coaches are very positive about the programme as it not only encourages the more talented individual event athletes to perform it provides an opportunity for all young athletes to take part, develop and achieve personal targets.

After only two weeks 9 young athletes have achieved gold awards. These are Jacob Bryden, James Gunn, Campbell Macdonald, Kathryn Offer, Erin Offer, Rebecca Gunn, Rebecca Munro, Eleanor Stewart and Catriona Mackay.

Top individual points scores in the speed events are Josh Sinclair with 71 points for a timed 1 minute run and Beth Morgan with 73 points for a very quick 80 metre time of 11.3 seconds.

Top Individual Jumpers are Jacob Brydon with 57 points in the Long Jump and Kathryn Offer with 63 points in the High Jump.

In the throwing section Erin Offer leads the way with 78 points in the shot whilst Jacob Brydon gains 71 points also in the shot.

SRAC would like to thank the sports council for their help in funding this initiative by providing a grant for the training of new coaches who assist at the Star Track sessions. Thanks also to all the coaches who give up their free time and particularly the parents who have been staying and helping out at the sessions.

Initiatives such as Star Track have valuable social, educational and health benefits and are not only associated with finding the next world champion. Although it is only with encouraging and retaining mass participation at an early age and throughout the teenage years that talented individuals will be able to rise to the top. Perhaps in this country we are to quick to look for a13 year old sporting star to develop and forgetting about all the benefits for the other 99% who may prove to be just as good or better in 5 years time. Hopefully SRAC may contribute to athletic successes in 2012 (London)!