| About
the Jets Everything you need to know about The Cambridge Jets |
| Who
are The Cambridge Jets? What are they all about? How did they get started? What's it like for a kid running track? Good
questions, you came to the right place for the answers. |
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Our Mission: |
The
Cambridge Jets is a private youth track club whose mission is to support
young people. Though we have large and varied groups of athletes,
it is our aim to attract young children who might not otherwise have
the opportunity to participate in sports. We work to build the children’s
skills and abilities to insure them the opportunity to successfully
negotiate life both on and off the field. We attempt to guide our
youth with an eye for the future. We hope to help many of our children
build the skills to get to college, where they may not have otherwise. "As a program, we are trying to get kids properly trained. Training does not consist solely of developing runners, but developing young adults with important life skills. By participating in a sport that is so competitive, youth track prepares kids with the hope that they can stick with something. The Jets are about making people unafraid of running track and unafraid of working hard. Learning to conquer your fears is one of the most important lessons in life, and it is our job as coaches to give kids the encouragement they need. At the same time as working hard, some kids will end up winning medals, gaining scholarships, and getting good exercise. All this is just icing on the cake. The most important thing is that every kid gives it his or her best and doesn't give up. That's more than anyone could ask of an 8 year old child." – Curtis Jackman |
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The Coaching Staff: |
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Head Coaches: Husband and Wife team, Curtis and Kimberly Jackman have been involved in the sport if Track and Field since they were children themselves, and are well aware of the enrichment opportunities the sport can provide. Curtis was a top High School Track Athlete who started coaching the Jets shortly after graduating when some younger family members expressed an interest in the sport.
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| Kimberly, who's interest has always been in working with young people, attended Roxbury Community College where she received an Associates Degree and UMass Boston where she received her Bachelors degree in Human Services. Curtis and Kimberly Jackman are both certified as coaches by the USA Track and Field organization. On June 3rd, 2000 they received a community service award from the Galluccio Associates Youth Sports Awards and another award on March 9th 1997 from the Cambridge Black Cultural and Historical Association Black History Month Awards, "In recognition of Outstanding Community Leadership and Service." |
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| The Cambridge Jets were established in 1987. The Cambridge Jets have become a fairly well know organization in the Cambridge community. Through their growing affiliations with local colleges (Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston Collage and others) they have been able to practice and hold events at topnotch facilities. With the support of the coaching staff, local organizations and their parents, the Jets athletes have thrived in the sport, winning a number of team championships and individual awards. On various occasions Jets runners have qualified to run for the US national team in the Junior Olympics. A large number of Jets runners continue their running at the collage level at universities all over the country, some even earning scholarships. The team has had the opportunity to travel to a number of interesting and exciting locations including NY City, Orlando, FL, and North Carolina. |
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Girls Mentor Program  |
| As part of the Harvard Student -Athlete Partnership the girls of Cambridge Jets have developed a relationship with the student athletes from the Harvard Women's Track Team. The women on the Harvard team host a number of activities for the Jets girls such as dinners, a tour of Harvard's campus, a bowling party, a trip to the Children's Museum, a training clinic, and support at each other's meets. The experience allows members of the Harvard women's track team to serve as mentors and teach their younger counterparts about the collegiate environment and their experiences as student athletes. |
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