If you pass the Taconic High School track on a summer evening, you will notice cars parked on both sides of Lakeway Drive.
The track is not only a place for daily training, but also the centerpiece of the Berkshire Thunder and Lightning program, where over 125 registered young athletes meet three times a week during the summer months to train and practice. The program is a free youth athletics club that offers a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines such as running, throwing and jumping.
“We do pretty much every track and field event you would do in high school,” said Paul Phelps, coach of the Berkshire Thunder. “We obviously do running, sprints, relays, distance and then the throwing events, so so far this summer we’ve done javelin and shot put, and then the jumping events, so long jump, high jump and triple jump, which we’ve just started working on.”
Children aged approximately seven to 17 have the opportunity to discover their potential, whether they are new to the sport or experienced competitors looking to refine their skills.
“The atmosphere there is just so great,” Phelps said. “That’s the best thing for coaches because obviously when we’re high school coaches, we have to find a balance between having a competitive team and trying to win while also teaching them and everything. With these kids, it’s just, ‘Let’s have fun,’ and there are no expectations. It’s just being out there; having fun, being outside, being safe and it gets them doing something for an hour.”
Berkshire Thunder has nine experienced coaches, each bringing extensive experience and dedication to the program. Phelps has coached track and cross country at Taconic since 2009 and Mike Menard has been a part of the Thunder program for eight years. Laura Najimy leads the Lenox High School track and cross country teams while Louise Colbourne, a certified USA Track & Field coach, coaches the girls teams at Taconic. Aaron Weeks leads the Pittsfield High School boys track and field team while Al Najimy coaches the Lenox High track and cross country team and has been with the Thunder program for a decade. Josh Weeks, who has over 20 years of track and field coaching experience, has been with the Thunder program for a decade. Dave Hall, the founder of the Thunder program, helps coach at Pittsfield High while Patrick Donahue coaches both cross country and track and field at Pittsfield High.
Hall developed the Berkshire Lighting program for girls, while Al Najimy developed the Berkshire Thunder program for boys. This summer, the programs will be offered coeducationally for the third time.
“I wanted the kids to be exposed to training and running, and I wanted to make sure they did it in an environment where it wasn’t too intense and too competitive, which I don’t mind at all, but I wanted there to be something for everyone,” Hall said. “I found out there were actually three groups of kids, and those were the ones that ran in the front. I called them the thoroughbreds, and they run as fast and as far as you let them, and then there are the ones in the middle; they’re there for social reasons. They run around and talk to each other, and then there are the ones in the back, and they’re there for really serious reasons, and I wanted something for everyone in the group.”
Those interested in participating can visit berkshirelightning.com and click on the registration form tab to complete registration online. Alternatively, paper registration forms will be available at each practice, including the upcoming session on July 20 from 9-10 a.m. at the Taconic track.
