MVHS Track Camp participant Ethan Fullman leads the pack in the final relay race of the camp. Photo by Vernon Robison.

By Dave Belcher

Moapa Valley Progress

Coach Shane Hickman and his coaching staff hosted around twenty students last week in the annual youth track and field camp at Moapa Valley High School.

About 20 participants signed up for the camp this year. “We were quite a bit low in turnout this year,” said Hickman. “Usually we have twice that. But there must have been some conflicts this year for people or something.”

The elementary and middle school-aged kids who attended the camp learned the fundamentals of the sport of track and field. The techniques in the field events like high jump and long jump as well as the shot put were taught. Practice in stretching and the importance of warming up were taught and explained just how to do it properly.

Nathaniel Thompsen gets some air while practiciing the long jump under the watchful eye of Track Coach Shane Hickman (left).

The kids were run through drills as they gained experience in each of the events. They were taught how to run with the correct form and how to gain speed by increasing the turnover and lengthen the stride.

They were also taught the importance of hydration and eating good food to keep their bodies fit and able to handle the rigors of the sport. Hickman said that the participants had a great time as they learned many wonderful and useful skills to help them run and jump more productively.

This camp is run each year during the first week after school gets out.