thedrifter
07-10-07, 04:49 AM
Ahern to lead team in fitness competition
BY JONATHAN MATTISE
STAFF WRITER
07/10/2007
Pat Ahern made a career out of fitness in the Scranton School District and in the Marines. So when the Scranton resident heard about the prospect of coaching a local team for the United States Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness Competition, it was a no-brainer.
“I think there is a lot of potential for our area,” Ahern said.
The local Lackawanna County squad is looking for male high school athletes to make up two six-person teams.
Each team will compete in five events. To gain a top score in each respective event, athletes must complete 30 pull-ups, 80 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, a 44-second 300-yard shuttle run and a 9-foot-3 standing long jump.
Weston Field in Scranton will make its facilities available for training and events.
The competition will stretch throughout the Northeast from Emmaus to Long Island, N.Y., from March 12 to April 12. A regional meet will take place at Parkland High School in Allentown, and teams that qualify for the national meet will travel to San Diego on May 13-17.
Ahern belives Northeastern Pennsylvania boasts its fair share of fitness-conscious athletes that can turn some heads in competition.
“They’re interested in fitness to start,” Ahern, 58, said. “By the time they get to high school, they’ve already gotten involved in some fitness activities. They might play baseball, wrestling, track — but I think it’s about participating for fitness itself.”
Contact the writer: jmattise@timesshamrock.com
Ellie
BY JONATHAN MATTISE
STAFF WRITER
07/10/2007
Pat Ahern made a career out of fitness in the Scranton School District and in the Marines. So when the Scranton resident heard about the prospect of coaching a local team for the United States Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness Competition, it was a no-brainer.
“I think there is a lot of potential for our area,” Ahern said.
The local Lackawanna County squad is looking for male high school athletes to make up two six-person teams.
Each team will compete in five events. To gain a top score in each respective event, athletes must complete 30 pull-ups, 80 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, a 44-second 300-yard shuttle run and a 9-foot-3 standing long jump.
Weston Field in Scranton will make its facilities available for training and events.
The competition will stretch throughout the Northeast from Emmaus to Long Island, N.Y., from March 12 to April 12. A regional meet will take place at Parkland High School in Allentown, and teams that qualify for the national meet will travel to San Diego on May 13-17.
Ahern belives Northeastern Pennsylvania boasts its fair share of fitness-conscious athletes that can turn some heads in competition.
“They’re interested in fitness to start,” Ahern, 58, said. “By the time they get to high school, they’ve already gotten involved in some fitness activities. They might play baseball, wrestling, track — but I think it’s about participating for fitness itself.”
Contact the writer: jmattise@timesshamrock.com
Ellie