Olympic stars challenge Barnet's youth in street sprint

Published by Philippa Hancock for Barnet Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Health

Olympic sprinters Linford Christie and Darren Campbell were on the hunt for the next British sprint sensation when they hosted races down a Barnet street.
The Olympic medallists teamed up with local organisations including Barnet Homes and appeared in person at the Street Athletics competition held on the Grahame Park Concourse on Thursday 16 July.
The Street Athletics event is a 60m sprint, with a number of heats for each age range before a series of finals. The winners of each age range will compete in the national finals in Manchester, with a chance to win a year’s kit contract with sports manufacturer Reebok.
Derek Rust, Barnet Homes’ Deputy Chief Executive, said: “We’re pleased to have hosted the national Street Athletics again on our Grahame Park estate. The community event has become one of the highlights of our calendar for residents.
“We want to encourage young people to do the very best they can. Street Athletics has proved a very simple and effective way of encouraging young people from all backgrounds to get involved and use local sporting facilities.”
Cabinet Member for Children’s Service, Cllor Fiona Bulmer, said: “As a council, we believe in helping all of the children and young people in the borough to reach their potential. I am delighted that the council and Barnet Homes are supporting street athletics in this way – it brings the athletics to a whole group of people who may not have considered the sport before.”
It is the second year that the competition has been run on Grahame Park, with the aim of triggering young people’s belief in their abilities and talents and boosting their confidence to be successful in other areas of their life.
As last year, local youngsters in the age groups Under 20, Under 17, Under 15, and Under 13 were invited to race each other in this event.
Barnet Council’s Sports Development Unit organised the event in partnership with the Grahame Park Community group and Barnet Homes and is backed by, amongst others, Sport England, England Athletics and Reebok.
For further information on Street Athletics please contact the Sports Development Unit on 020 8359 7817.

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