At least 200 aspiring athletes across Bayelsa on Tuesday began the journey to stardom and self actualization in track and field as a two day Athletics Clinic got underway in Yenagoa.
The Clinic which is at the instance of the SamKay Athletics Academy in synergy with the Bayelsa State Athletics Association has young athletes within the ages of 6 and 20 years participating in various events from sprints, middle and long distance as well as relay races and field events.
At the opening of the Clinic at the Tartan tracks of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, Founder and Chief Executive of the SamKay Athletics Academy, Dr. Kolawole Oredipe emphasized that the event was geared towards exposing young people to track and field events and produce future national and world champions.
Secretary of the Bayelsa State Athletics Association, Tari Bidei charged the young athletes to aspire for greatness just as others such as Aleibiri, Ekeremor born Tima Godbless, discovered from schools sports and making waves in sprints.
Renowned athletics Coach, Terry Maurice, himself a former marathoner in an orientation session challenged the aspiring athletes to exhibit a high level of discipline, dedication and self motivation to succeed in the sport.
Javelin Coach, Pius Bazighe who set a personal best of 81.08 metres on June 16, 1999 at a meet in Athens, Greece, breaking the Nigerian national record which he held until the recent African Games in Ghana this year, broken by another Nigerian, Chinecherem Nnamdi, urged parents to support their children to actualize their potential.
Some students selected from the SamKay Athletics Academy Secondary Schools Meet in Yenagoa in January joined hundreds of aspiring athletes from across Bayelsa for the Athletics Clinic, taking part in sprints, middle and long distances, relays and field events.