Olympic sprint aces visit Blackburn to help young runners

3:52pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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OLYMPIC stars Linford Christie and Darren Campbell visited Blackburn to uncover ‘hidden’ athletic talent that could be propelled to glory in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Youngsters aged between three and 19 took part in 60 metre sprint races down the King William Street yesterday in a series of qualifying heats for the Streets Athletic project.

Streets Athletics was set up by the two sprinters four years ago, and has been touring the UK trying to break down barriers which prevent youngsters from believing in their own talents.

The winners of individual heats will be invited to a Grand Final in Manchester, where the overall winner will win a year’s kit contract with Reebok, and will be invited to compete in races across the country.

Christie said: “We have chosen our areas carefully where we know there are disengaged and underprivileged kids who don’t feel they have anything.

“The idea of sprinting down a street against other kids came from the experiences both me and Darren shared as youngsters.

“There is a lot of talent around and we want to give kids the opportunities we were given as youngsters.

“In the second year of Street Athletics we found the fastest schoolboy in Britain and we have also discovered English Schools champions.

“You never know, hopefully we might find somebody in Blackburn who ends up competing at the 2012 Olympic Games.”

Darren added: “We want to give underprivileged youngsters a chance to have a go at sprinting in an environment where it is fun, safe and they feel comfortable.

“Often kids think that joining a running club is uncool, but if they enjoy this experience, we hope they can further themselves at a club.

“A lot of people have spent time watching me and Linford compete on the television and we want to put something back.”

Christie is an Olympic 100metre gold medallist, while Campbell also competed in the event at the Olympics.

The event was branded under the month-long Celebrate Blackburn festival.