2006 Dwight Stones Track & Field Academy Wrap-Up

In the words of one experienced camp director, “by any measure, your camp was very successful.  When you take into consideration it was a first-year event, it was fantastic.”

And praise for the 2006 Dwight Stones Presents; The Asics Champions’ Track & Field Academy continues to roll in.  Athletes and coaches alike have weighed-in on everything from the world class staff of clinicians, the attention to detail of the supporting cast, and the incredible facility at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, CA which hosted the event.

Imagine being guided for two full days by some of the legends of the sport; athletes who have won Olympic & World Championship medals, set world records, and are members of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

This was the experience had by over 220 participants at our first-year event.  Two days on a state of the art facility rarely seen in the high school ranks.  Athletes (ages 13 and up) and coaches learning the most up-to-date training and performance techniques from some of the greatest athletes this country has ever produced.

Many of the participants flew in from all parts of the country to take advantage of what some have characterized as “the greatest staff of coaches ever assembled for a camp.”  The residents were lodged at the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn less than 2 miles from the campus and were treated to a barbeque dinner at the school after the conclusion of the first day of instruction.  The participants and coaches were able to mingle with the coaches for some impromptu questions and answers about everything related to their individual events.

Lunch on Day 1 was complemented with a presentation by camp chiropractor Chris Barney who talked about injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.  Dr. Chris was available all-day both days to consult, treat, and counsel athletes and coaches about the most commonly seen problems among high school athletes and how to best deal with them.

During lunch on Day 2 the parents were invited to the multi-purpose room on campus so they could participate in an informational session with many of the assembled NCAA Div. I, II, & III coaches who spoke to all the participants about how to best position themselves for college entrance and the prospect of competing at the college/university level.

The last half of the afternoon on Day 2 was devoted to competition in many of the events at the camp.  This was an opportunity for the athletes to put into practice that which they learned during the two information-packed days.  Many of the participants matched or exceeded their personal bests from the previous season even though most of them were as much as 8 weeks out of competition.  That’s how powerful the right information can be in the career of a young athlete.

With the inaugural camp under our belts we look forward to even bigger and better things in 2007.  The dates for the academy will be on the weekend of July 7-8 and we’ll be back at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, CA.

Most of the same clinicians have committed to our second annual event and we’ll be introducing a specific section for multi-event (heptathlon/decathlon) athletes led by Olympic Decathlon Champion Dan O’Brien.  This is a must-attend camp for those athletes preparing for the Junior Olympics multi-event competitions that are contested in late July/early August.

So why don’t you make plans to join us in July 2007 and see how much you can improve your current skill levels and training regimen by spending two days with “the best track camp staff on the planet.”

See you next summer.

Coach Stones

www.DwightStones.com