Four of the nation’s top athletes will train a select group of 50 aspiring athletes at the Atlantic Track & Field Development Camp this weekend at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva.
For the first time, recently signed Atlantic Sports Ambassadors Jereem Richards and Khalifa St Fort will join Olympic medallists and Ambassadors Richard Thompson and Keshorn Walcott in hosting the annual camp, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am on both days. Participants will undergo a two-day master class, learning accurate techniques in both sprinting and field events.
Thompson, current holder of the national 100-metre record, triple Olympic medallist and chief trainer/coach on the annual Atlantic camp, said the initiative makes an important contribution to local athletic development.
“Since we started the camp in 2015 it has continued to broaden the development of the children who participate," Thompson said. "Last year, Keshorn was added and we included a stronger aspect of training for field events, which would have been missing. This year, we are joined by two fast-rising talents, Jereem and Khalifa. We, therefore, expanded it to a full weekend training camp and we know this will improve the overall experience for the children.”
Atlantic lauded the four national athletes for their willingness to support the camp and its potential to help build a new generation of track and field champions.
The development camp began three years ago as a part of the company's commitment to youth development through sport. The top primary school athletes from seven educational districts in the annual Atlantic National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships are selected to participate.