3M TRACK & FIELD CLUB
NOT A RECREATIONAL PROGRAM
.MISSION STATEMENT
THE 3M TRACK CLUB OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY FOR BOYS & GIRLS RESIDING IN THE EAST BAY AND OTHER BAY AREA COMMUNITIES, AGAINST THE MANY PERILS THAT HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, BECOME INDIGENIOUS TO AMERICA'S INNER-CITY: HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS, DRUG CONSUMPTION, TEEN PREGNANCIES, GANG VIOLENCE, AND A GENERAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS. IN ADDITION TO TEACHING TRACK AND FIELD FUNDAMENTALS AND CONCEPTS TO ASPIRING YOUNG ATHLETES, MEMBERS OF THE 3M TRACK CLUB ARE ALSO TAUGHT SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL COMMITMENT, RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS.
CLUB HISTORY
HISTORY
THE 3M TRACK CLUB WAS FOUNDED MAY 1983 BY MR. WILLIAM PITTMAN. THE OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA BASED TRACK & FIELD CLUB EMERGED FROM COACH PITTMAN'S DESIRE TO DEVELOPE A SPORT PROGRAM FOR HIS TWO CHILDREN, MONIQUE & MONTELL. WORD OF THE NEW "TRACK & FIELD PROGRAM", QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. AS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS TRACK & FIELD PROGRAM INCREASED, COACH PITTMAN AGREED TO EXPAND AND INCLUDE ALL YOUNGSTERS WHO HAD THE TIME, DESIRE AND FORTITUDE TO HANDLE THE PHYSICAL REQUISITES OF TRAINING. EVENTUALLY, THE 3M TRACK CLUB WAS OFFICIALLY INCORPORATED AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN MAY 1983.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, THE 3M TRACK CLUB HAS SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING ALL OF IT'S ATHLETES FREE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT, GANG ACTIVITY AND TEEN PREGNANCY. ATHLETES LEAVE THE PROGRAM WITH A STRONG SENSE OF CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH ARE VITAL INGREDIENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS AND IN LIFE. BELOW ARE SOME NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED BY OUR PROGRAM;
89% OF ALL FORMER TEAM MEMBERS HAVE ACHIEVED AND
MAINTAINED ACADEMIC SUCCESS WITH GRADES OF (B) OR BETTER.
OF THE 1300 PLUS MEMBERS OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, OVER 70%
HAVE ENTERED THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES:
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY, USC, STANFORD, UCLA,
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, OHIO STATE, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY,
HOWARD UNIVERSITY, MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE, FRESNO STATE,
UTAH STATE, SACRAMENTO STATE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIF. DAVIS,
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, FLORIDA ST. UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA, CAL POLY, OREGON UNIVERSITY, CAL STATE EAST BAY UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF LAS VEGAS, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY,
SAN FRANCISCO STATE, SAN JOSE STATE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, HOLY NAMES COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS, LSU, TEXAS A&M, TEXAS SOUTHERN, WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY, UTAH UNIVERSITY AND A HOST OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
THIRTY-NINE PERCENT OF ALL TEAM MEMBERS EARNED ACADEMIC
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT RECEIVED
ACADEMIC/ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS.
WE ARE PROUD TO MENTION THAT THE FRUITS OF THIS PROGRAM HAVE YIELDED
48+ INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AND 23+ NATIONAL RELAY TEAMS.
Track and Field Essay
By Luca Ionescu-Zanetti
Are you thinking about joining a track club? Whether you are or not, here are some basics you need to know. First of all, “TRACK IS NOT A LEISURE SPORT.” If you like working hard and running, track is the sport for you. Now, I’ll be telling you about a few basic rules in track, the events, and the form required.
There is a basic set of rules for track. I’ll be telling you a couple you NEED to know! Number one: push yourself. In track, the most important thing you have to do, no matter which event you’re in, is push yourself. You have to push yourself to exceed the boundaries you set for yourself and to constantly improve. Another important rule in track is to listen to your coach. You should always listen to your coach because your coach is the one that will help you achieve your goals and exceed your boundaries.
One thing that makes track different from most sports is there are so many events you can do. First I’ll be telling you about running events. Running events are what people most commonly associate with track. Running events vary from 50m – 3,000m. They’re split into 3 categories: short distance, middle distance, and long-distance. The second half of track events are field events. Field events consist of three categories too. The first is throwing, which consists of shot put, javelin, and discus. The second category is jumping. It consists of long jump, high jump, and pole vault. The third and final category is hurdles, which is basically jumping over fences while running. That was a summary of all the events in track.
Form is the key to success in all events of track. Form includes pumping your arms back and forth with your elbow passing your core. Form is also keeping your head straight and running on the tips of your toes. Since you are not actually running much in throwing events, form is a little different. For example, you have to point your javelin up, never at the ground. You also have to flick your wrist to get it flying high.
I hope you will find what I’ve told you about rules, events, and form for track useful. If you are thinking about joining track, remember those rules and you will succeed. What event do you like best? P.S. Join 3M Track Club!
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