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Warm weather helps athletes
Wednesday May 07th 2008. Posted: 09:00
Just back from a summer training camp in Portugal is the South West’s Chris Norman, a diagnostic testing officer based at Exeter.
Chris, a middle distance assistant coach with North Devon Athletics Club, was helping put some of the club’s best young athletes through their paces before the various competitions this year. Self-financed by the athletes aged from 14 to 22, the camp at Monte Gordo on the Algarve gave them the advantage of warm weather training to increase speeds. “It was very successful,” said Chris. “There were athletes from the British and Russian teams preparing for the Olympics, and our youngsters were given strengthening exercises and training to improve their core stability which can lead to better performances,” added Chris. Apart from forthcoming events such as the county and regional championships, the North Devon team is hoping for medals in the English Schools Championships this summer. Chris’s 18-year-old son Phil is a former gold medal winner in the 2km steeplechase, and won silver in last year’s 3km event. The club has three young athletes sponsored by UK Athletics, hoping to be selected for the 2012 Olympic Games. Apart from the huge amount of time spent by the athletes, it also costs money to attend training camps. BT, through its Community Champions award scheme, weighed in with a donation of £160. “This helped pay part of the travel costs and it was very much appreciated,” said Chris.
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Last updated:
07:55
