Sports Extravaganza Sports Clinic

Track and field fans in the Arizona area have a unique opportunity coming their way. The Sports Extravaganza Sports Clinic employs current and former Olympians to train and encourage youth in track and field activities, as well as in areas such as teamwork, goal setting, and problem solving. This year the Sports Extravaganza Sports Clinic will take place on March 3, 2007 at Flowing Wells High School in Tucson, Arizona.

Track and field events will include sprinting, long and middle distance, hurdling, jumping, and throwing. Activities rotate so that athletes can sample and explore different track and field activities and discover what they are good at or what they like.

The clinic is free, sponsored in part by Nike, and for youth ages 5-18. Individuals, schools, club teams, and coaches are all welcome to participate. Subway will also provide free lunch.

“Our charge is to fight child obesity and improve life skills through sports,” says LaTanya Sheffield, the former Olympic hurdling finalist who started the program nine years ago. Sports Extravaganza has since served over 1,600 youth and close to 500 athletes are expected to attend this year.

Instructors include professional athletes, coaches, trainers, and of course, the Olympians. “We are pretty excited about this year and about the Olympic athletes we have coming,” says Sheffield, highlighting veteran track stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the 1968 gold and bronze medalists for the 200 meters, respectively. They bring more to the table than just their track skills. “Their famous gesture in the 1968 Olympics Games was a symbol of not only civil right but human rights,” Sheffield says.

2007 Invited Olympians and Coaches

Tommie Smith
1968 Olympian, Gold, 200 Meters

John Carlos
1968 Olympian, Bronze, 200 Meters

Tonie Campbell
3 X Olympian, 2 Silver, 110 Hurdles children’s book just run

Al Joyner
Olympian, Gold, Triple Jump

Larry Myricks
2 X Olympian, Bronze, Long Jump

Johanna Hayes
2004 Olympian, Gold, 100 hurdles, Olympic Record

Bernard Legat
2 X Olympian, 2 Silver, 1500 Meters

Carla Garret
1996 Olympian, Paralympics Coach, Discus

Dwayne Evans
1976 Olympian, Silver, 200 Metes AZ High School Principle

LaTanya Sheffield
1988 Olympian, Former American Record 400H

Hazel Cark
2 X Olympian 00, 04

Rahn Sheffield
Coach to Olympic & Paralympics Athletes 88, 92, 96, 2000

Abdi Abdirahaman
Olympian, 10,000 meters

More information and the registration form can be found at www.sportsx.org.

Participants can also register at the Nike Factory Store in the Foothills Mall.