KELSEY Park Sports College has teamed up with Blackheath & Bromley Harriers Athletics Club to launch a track and field academy at the college.

The new academy, based on the college’s very successful football academy, will provide quality coaching and competitive opportunities to support the development of both male and female athletes at the highest level.

It is an opportunity for talented athletes to continue an intensive training programme in athletics without jeopardising a post 16 education or progressing to university.

Olympic athlete and British 100m record holder Montell Douglas, who is a member of Blackheath & Bromley AC, is helping to launch the academy, which will take on its first group of students in September.

Douglas, who also attended Brunel University where she broke the long standing British 100m record in 2008, said: “I think this is an amazing opportunity for young athletes who aspire to excel like I did at both areas in their lives, academically and in sport.”

Coaches from Blackheath & Bromley Harriers will work closely with PE staff at Kelsey Park to provide a curriculum which will enable the young athletes to train on a daily basis for their chosen event, as well as follow a BTEC national diploma in sport.

UK athletics coaching courses will also be available to the athletes so they can learn about all the different aspects of track & field.

Young athletes currently in Year 11 are invited to apply for a place at the academy and will be given the opportunity to join once they have attended an open evening to be held at the Kelsey Park in April.

For more information about the athletics academy, email assistant head teacher Matt Strange on mstrange@ kelseypark.bromley.sch.uk