It's officially Youth Week at Atlanta Track Club!
Atlanta Track Club celebrates and calls attention to future generations during Youth Week. Youth Running has always been a part of the Club's mission, and over the years the number of youth related programs, races and accomplishments to celebrate has grown tremendously. In 1964, Atlanta Track Club's very first event was an awards banquet to honor high school cross country and track and field athletes.
That tradition continues today with the Powerade All-Metro Banquets, which honors more than 85 metro - Atlanta athletes and coaches for their exceptional accomplishments at the end of each season.
Youth week is not just a recognition of what's being done but a declaration that Running City USA will continue to focus on kids through continually evolving youth events and programming. From Kilometer Kids to Youth Team to Microsoft Peachtree Junior to community partnerships, such as the one with Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta Track Club keeps the next generation of runners and walkers the central focus.
During Youth Week, April 10 -15 we will be highlighting the various programs and events that cater to kids. Up first is our April Midweek Mile & Dash. Held at Blackburn Park on April 12 this is a free youth event designed for kids ages 14 and under. It includes a timed mile, a 50m dash and a track & field zone where participants can compete for fun in events like mini hurdles, agility ladders and more. Other events your kids can participate in this spring include the Northside BeltLine 3K -5K presented by Resurgens Orthopaedics. The 3K welcomes all participants 9 and older and the 5K welcomes all participants 8 and older.
In the midst of Youth week, we also have some fantastic youth programming coinciding with our youth events, such as Kilometer Kids and Youth Team.
Kilometer Kids is a program that focuses on teaching kids about goal-setting, healthy habits, community building and respect through the sport of running. Since the program's inception, over 40,000 kids have participated.
Out of Kilometer Kids was born the competitive level, the Youth Team. Focused on kids in grades 4 - 8, the team's goals are geared toward long-term development and growth. In addition to track and field and cross country skills, the program also encourages Youth Team members to learn about sportsmanship, health, wellness and goal-setting- skills that will aid them throughout their lives.
Atlanta Track Club's community partnership with Atlanta Public Schools has allowed us to support the district's cross country and track and field programs through initiatives aimed at improving athlete performance while generating excitement and building community among teams. Providing meet timing, coaches clinics as well as grants for equipment, meet entry fees and coaching certifications have been just a few of the support initiatives that have taken place since the partnership began in 2018.
From the first Peachtree Junior to the first Wingfoot Night of Champions Track & Field, Atlanta kids are here to run! Looking back on the progress of these programs highlights the Club's commitment this group. It also reminds current and future generations of the work it takes to engage the Atlanta community in working towards a healthy lifestyle. Follow along with Youth Week on our social media channels and in our Wingfoot Magazine, to see how you can get involved by registering your child, volunteering or donating to the Atlanta Track Club Foundation to help others!