Champions Youth Track Club

Our mission......

Champions Youth Track Club is a family-friendly youth track & field program serving boys and girls ages 8–14 from communities throughout southeastern Polk County, Iowa. Our club is designed for young athletes who are curious about track & field, whether they are trying the sport for the first time or looking to build skills, confidence, and a love for competition.

Our season begins with weekly practices starting in February, focusing on fundamental movement skills, speed, agility, coordination, and event exploration. After spring break, practices transition outdoors twice per week, allowing athletes to train, grow, and prepare for the outdoor track season in a positive and encouraging environment. Practices are optional but we encourage athletes to attend at least one practice per week.

At Champions Youth Track Club, our vision is to create a program where athletes and families feel welcomed, supported, and connected. We believe youth sports should build more than speed and strength, they should build character, confidence, friendships, and lifelong healthy habits. Our coaches emphasize effort, sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal improvement, while creating an atmosphere where kids are excited to show up, try new events, and celebrate each other’s success.

We are proud to offer a program that brings families together, supports young athletes at every ability level, and helps children discover what it truly means to be a Champion, on and off the track.

Common Track Events

• Sprints: 100m, 200m, 400m

• Hurdles: 80m/100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles (depending on age)

• Middle Distance: 800m, 1500m (or Mile)

• Long Distance: 3000m, 5000m, 2000m Steeplechase (youth distances vary)

• Relays: 4x100m, 4x400m, 4x800m

Common Field Events

• Jumps: Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump

• Throws: Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, Hammer Throw (age dependent)

Quick Information:

When: February 1 - Beginning of June. Practices are on Sundays at 4:15 pm.

Where: Indoor practice at the SEP High School Indoor Track. Outdoor practice will be 1-2 times a week with the location TBD.

Age Groups: Events are divided into age divisions (e.g., U6, U8, U10, U12, U14) with varying distances and hurdle heights.

Cost: The cost to join our youth track club and participate in all practices is $250, this fee includes a track uniform top. The club fee is also used for the following things: participation insurance, instruction from paid coaches, funds to purchase equipment, funds to pay track rental fees, athlete registration for up to 4 youth track meets, and funds to cover our required USATF club fee.

Available Discounts: We will offer a multi-kid discount if you register more than 1 child. Contact Nate for how to register online and get the discount or if you pay with cash or check, it will be deducted at that time. Financial assistance is available if needed to help offset the cost, please contact Nate for options including a payment plan.

Coaching - SEP Boys Track Coach Jason Nolting and members of his staff along with coaches from the SEP girls track program will plan and lead practices. We will have experienced volunteers help lead stations at practices.

Track Meets: There are quite a few youth track meets in Central Iowa, we will select 2 meets that we encourage all members to attend but your club fee will pay for up to 4 meets of your choice. For all other meets, you will complete a form to let us know which meets you plan to attend so we can pay your registration fee. We will communicate to everyone the meets that the youth athletes in our club plan to attend.

Membership with USA Track & Field: If your child plans to participate in youth track meets, you will need to register them for a membership with USA Track & Field. We are not able to do this for you. The cost for an individual membership is $38.