November 30, 2014

Organization combines track and field with tutoring and mentoring

By Brian Alexander, The Bradford Era

A boy practices hurdles as part of the Striders’ summer development program.

In 1979, friends and high school track teammates Daniel Feather and Ron Graham formed a small team called the Chadakoin Valley Athletic Club—a group aimed at giving local teens a constructive outlet through track and field. The next year, the club was renamed the Chautauqua Striders, and member Eric Healy became the club’s first athlete to win a national championship. Realizing the importance of cultivating strong academic skills along with athletics, the club’s founders added a tutoring program to help their athletes get into college.

Today, Chautauqua Striders works with more than 1,800 youths annually through tutoring, mentoring and, of course, the track club that got it all started. “Our goal is to help youths graduate high school inspired with the knowledge, skills and confidence required for successful college and career experiences,” says executive director Ben Lindquist, who joined Chautauqua Striders about a year ago, replacing the former executive director of 23 years.

Lindquist says Chautauqua Striders has between 30 and 40 participants in its middle school and high school track clubs each year. In July, the Striders sent six of its athletes to the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships in Texas, three of whom achieved All-American status. Striders also offers a youth development program every June and July forkids ages 5 to 12.

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Filed under: Academic Learning Centers,Community

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