Sports Editor

Last year the Fayette County Youth Track team held one

practice before spring break. The team had close to 30 members, ages

6-14. At the first practice after spring break, the coaches and over

half the team disappeared, due to apathy, injuries and extenuating

family circumstances.

"Morale was pretty low, as you could imagine," Danielle

Mathis said. "When half the team doesn't show up, the others start

wondering why they are there." Mathis took over coaching

responsibilities with two other parents, John DeCotis and Kent Woerner,

to give their children and the remaining members of the team

a season to remember.The team persevered and went on to

the 1998 G.R.P.A. Districts held in Lovejoy and the State Finals

in Augusta.

The Fayette Youth Track team is now in the process of

rebuilding. Coach Kent Woerner has moved to Clayton County and

his family, including several key members of last year's team,

have moved with him. While they are always looking for fresh faces

for the team, they are desperately in need of coaches and

volunteers, especially field coaches. Last year, one member qualified for the

states in the high jump without a field coach. The talent is there, the

kids just need the guidance. "We really need the help of the

parents," Coach Mathis said. "When the parents work with their

children, a regimen can be established that would facilitate a

healthier lifestyle."

There are many benefits of particpating with the

Fayette Youth Track team besides the obvious physical benefits.

There is a spirit of sportsmanship, cooperation and friendship that is

built as the teammates share each other's achievements and lead

and encourage each other. Discipline and goal setting can also

be achieved through running track. It isn't so much about

beating everyone else but rather doing your personal best. "I just

want the kids to leave as better people and better runners," stated

Coach Mathis.

Danielle Mathis has some experience at track and

coaching. She ran track in high school and coached intramural basketball

and tennis in college. She knows what it takes to build winners and all

of her sons run on the team. Danielle also worked on the Summer

Olympic Motvational Program. The program consisted of

former Olympic medal winners hosting clinics for children who did

poorly throughout the school year. The goal is to motivate better

academics through the discipline of athletics. Danielle has worked at

these clinics with Ron Freeman of the 1968 gold medal relay

team, Wilma Rudolph and Althea Gibson.

The goal of the Fayette Youth Track team, according to

Mathis, is to "start a summer youth track program as well as a year

round running club." The benefits of this type of program cannot be

denied. Anything that stimulates discipline and good health in the

youth should be assisted by the people within the community.

Registration for the Fayette Youth Track team will take

place at the Fayette County Recreation Center on Jan. 18 -22 and

25-29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 23 and

30. The fee is $40 and each family gets $5 off for each sibling

that registers at the same time. The team will start practicing on

Feb. 23 at McCurry Park in Fayetteville. Contact Danielle

Mathis through the Fayette County Recreation Department at

770-461-9714.

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