BADGERS GIVE BACK
Badgers take break from 'break' to help
kids learn importance of active lifestyles
Women's track athletes join Olympic champion at kids' clinic in California
E
ven though their Spring Break really didn't
involve much of a break, members of the
Wisconsin women's track and field team still
managed to give some of their time to the next generation of athletes.
Ten of the Badgers' field event and combined
events athletes took time away from training to volunteer as part of a special clinic for kids in Santa
Barbara, Calif., last week.
The event, organized by the Women's Athletic
Performance Foundation, brought 45 kids from the
Santa Barbara area together to learn from top athletes, including Olympic decathlon gold medalist
Ashton Eaton.
The Badgers, who were using the same track at
Westmont College to train during Spring Break,
were excited to offer their expertise at the clinic.
"They were very excited about helping the kids,"
UW assistant coach Nate Davis of his athletes. "They
22 ยป VARSITY
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all have something to offer. They all come from different backgrounds.
"The opportunity to help in any way with the
WAPF or with Westmont College because of their
hospitatliy is something we love to do."
The WAPF, which has made its home at Westmont, was established to provide training to elite
level female heptathletes, helping them prepare for
international competition.
Still, the focus of the clinic was more on helping
kids learn the importance of getting outside and getting active.
"The mission of the WAPF is not only to support
elite heptathletes, but also to promote physical activity in youth," said Josh Priester, director of the
WAPF and an assistant coach at Westmont College.
"We are not necessarily trying to create track athletes, but to create kids that are excited about doing
activities."