Track and Field Camp Promotes Athletics, Academics and Motivation

On Friday afternoon, 70 students in grades K-12 stood together and recited the following phrase: "Successful people focus on the possibilities, not on the problems."

They've actually been hearing and reciting it all week. It's the motto of the track and field camp held in New Brunswick over the past week, called "Determined to Reach Your Destiny XII".

The camp, now in its twelfth year, is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation.

It is overseen by Diggs herself, a four time Olympian in Track and Field for the years 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000. Diggs was inducted in 2009 into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Held over the past week, 70 students from around New Jersey trained in track and field techniques, including sprinting, long jumps, distance running and hurdle jumping.

The camp met for five days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Stadium for the cost of $30 per student, with the majority of the cost being covered by the sponsorships of Johnson and Johnson and the Foundation, Diggs said.

Diggs said that all coaches involved with the camp were certified, and worked with the students in different areas, including speed and agility, long jump and triple jump, sprint, hurdle jumping, and distance running.

Diggs said that the camp was meant to do more than just hone the track and field abilities of the students. It aims to teach the students how to use sports to reach goals in their life and preaches 'life lessons" such as responsibility, team work and motivation.

The final day of the camp concluded with relay races and team awards, given in categories like "Most Persistent Campers," and "Most Improved," in different areas.

Awards were also given for notable feats, such as completing every take-home assignment given during the camp and for being the most dedicated, the latter of which went to a student who walked over a mile there and back each day to attend camp.

The camp is completed in New Brunswick area for the summer, but Diggs said that the camp will keep going as long as it has support.

Bruce Curry of Johnson & Johnson gave a brief speech during the ceremony and urged the students to consider taking the lessons of community service and motivation and paying them forward.

"I started like that. Somebody helped me," he said.

Young area track enthusiasts will have another chance to run today, as Johnson & Johnson's African-American Leadership Council is hosting a track meet at Memorial Stadium on Joyce Kilmer Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that is open to kids ages 5-17. It is free and open to the public.