Muhammad Ali famously said "It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."
A group of kids and teens from all over New Jersey came together this week and spoke that quote together to affirm their own beliefs in themselves as part of the "Determined to Reach Your Destiny" camp.
The Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation has run a track camp for area youth for over a decade with the sponsorship support of Johnson & Johnson.
The weeklong camp had 65 kids meeting at Memorial Stadium every day for the past week, learning and practicing long jumps, sprints, hurdles and distance running, aided by Diggs' team of certified coaches.
A Hillsborough resident, Joetta Clark Diggs is a four-time track and field olympian, having competed in the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic games, according to her bio.
Her accomplishments saw her inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2009 and most recently, earned her a spot in the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
In addition to athletic training, the camp participants were given nightly homework assignments to research different topics related to their training and then return the next day to report on what they learned, Diggs said.
On Friday afternoon, the camp culminated with an awards ceremony, recognizing a number of students for their different achievements, including those who showed the most improvement, jumped the highest, had the fastest sprints and were the most helpful and punctual.
Bruce Curry of Johnson & Johnson said the camp combines "positive attitude" with physical fitness to create a great experience.
"I love this event," he said.
The camp is now over for the summer, but young runners may come to Memorial Stadium on Joyce Kilmer Avenue on Saturday, July 13 for Johnson & Johnson's annual track meet, which is also a culminating event for the campers.
The meet will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to school-age children. It is free and open to the public.
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