First Christian helps Junior Athletes Travel to Houston
by Rick Tipton
Founded in 1982, Westside Track Club has organized and operated one of the nation's leading youth track-and-field programs for girls and boys ages 7 to 18. Westside has developed several national champions while simultaneously cultivating champion citizens. Westside Track Club has over 100 years of combined coaching experience; both Coach Underwood and Coach Edward Newton are in the Kentucky High School Hall of Fame. Westside Track Club members have produced numerous Kentucky High School State Champions. Westside has produced more National Champions than any other track team in Louisville, KY. It has produced over 30 AAU and USATF Medalists.
Hosting local meets, giving back to the local community by providing an environment for all ages to compete; Westside Track, through its competition at various locations, exposes it's runners to colleges and other activities to deliver positive experiences, promote health and fitness, exposes members to educational opportunities, promotes and rewards academic and other achievements, and encourages activities that help members develop their full potential as young people.
The Westside Track Club is working to get top athletes to the 2021 AAU National Junior Olympics in Houston, Texas. The process is long, it takes patience, perseverance, and both a very dedicated athlete and a dedicated organization to make it happen. Westside Track Club has 86 athletes, 54 of which have qualified to run in the Junior Olympics. The average cost for an athlete to travel to the Junior Olympics is approximately $1,500.00. Athletes are responsible for covering travel expenses, accommodation, competition entry fees and daily dining but with over 50% of the athletes participating in Westside Track Club coming from single parent households, having multiple sibling participants, and being 2021 high school graduates with plans to attend college this fall, there is a need for assistance in offsetting the cost for them to attend the AAU Junior Olympics.
FCC was thrilled to work with Westside Track Club again this year and provide grant funds to offset some of these expenses for the trip in July 2021.
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