Rochelle Stevens

A little advice and encouragement goes a long way if the person offering it is someone you admire.

Rochelle Stevens got a little advice from fellow Olympians Jackie Joyner Kersee, Carl Lewis, Roger Kingdom and the late Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith Joyner.

“I always got advice from people who’ve made it in the sport,” said Stevens, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. “I’d asked them about their own workout to enhance my career.”

On Saturday, May 24, budding athletes from 2 to 60 can get advice and encouragement for their own sports careers during the 18th Annual Rochelle Stevens Invitational Track Meet at Kirby High School on Kirby Parkway.

Doug Williams, the star quarterback and MVP of the Washington Redskins’ 1988 Super Bowl game against John Elway’s Denver Broncos, will be Stevens’ special guest. They will be available to sign autographs.

Registration begins onsite at 8 a.m. followed by the opening ceremony at 9. Admission is $5 for spectators. Participants in metered races, including the sprint relays, long jump and shot put, will be asked to pay $10 to compete.  Runners can compete in 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500-meter races.

Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each race.

Parents with children ages 2 to 5 will only be allowed to participate in the 50-meter race, Stevens said. Athletes as far away as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Missouri will also compete in the track meet.

Music and entertainment will be provided along with vendors who will disseminate information for jobs, colleges, the U.S. military, and more.

The invitational track meet ends at 5 p.m.

Also, children ages 6 to 18 can participate in Stevens’ two-day track camp from 8 to 11 a.m. on June 2 and 3 at Germantown Baptist Church, 9450 Poplar Ave. This is the 15th year for this event.

“It’s a really good camp,” Stevens said.  

During the camp, children will learn personal training techniques from Stevens, including warm-up techniques, proper eating and mental preparation before a race.   

Stevens says that she will give the young athletes much advice and encouragement, particularly if they choose to follow her path to the Olympics.

For more information on the track camp at Germantown Baptist Church, call (901) 260-5704, extension 7867.