LV Flyers teach more than track

     By Damon Hodge
     View staff writer
      Roy Session set out four years ago to field a competitive youth track club that stressed mettle over medals. He's succeeded in producing both.
      Entering his fourth year as coach of the Las Vegas Flyers, the former Clark High School state track champion and Pacific-10 champion relay runner is one of the city's most admired youth coaches, has one of the valley's biggest clubs and is training the state's next generation of track elite.
      "Coaching was my way of giving back to the community and one of the things I set out to do was stress discipline in the kids whom I coached," said Session, a prep champion in 400-meter and the sprint relays, 1985 Pac-10 400-meter relay champion and a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier.
      Session's club averages 50 to 60 athletes each nine-month season, with the number of boys and girls split evenly. Ten coaches, far more than the average youth club staff, guide the 6- to 15-year-olds. Most have collegiate track experience and all have bought into Session's philosophy of molding better people and better athletes.
      "He really emphasizes teaching the kids about having goals in life and achieving them," said sprint coach Cheryl Jones, a former UNLV All-American in the 400- and 1,600-meter relays. "We stress the importance of hard work and we really try to be role models for the kids. We're like a small family."
      Athletes must maintain at least a C average to participate in club activities.
      Session has produced 16 regional champions, 20 qualifiers for the Junior Olympics and a double national champion, 11-year-old Bonner Elementary pupil LaQueshia Walker.
      Walker, a fifth-grader, won national championships in the 200- and 400-meter races and finished fourth in the 800 meters at last year's Junior Olympics in Seattle. Session also coached reigning prep 100- and 200-meter state champion Shameka Davis when the Cimarron-Memorial sophomore was with the Las Vegas Stealth. He still trains her.
      "He's a really good coach who knows a lot about the sport," Walker said. "He really treats us well."
      That's important, said 14-year-old Rayland Curie, a national qualifier in the short sprints and the long jump last year.
      "Our coaches don't yell at us or curse at us, but coaches in other track clubs yell at their kids," the Becker Middle School eighth-grader said.
      Racine O'Neal bolted from a successful club to join the Flyers four years ago. The abrasive coaching style had worn on her.
      "He's the reason I came and stayed," the Lied Middle School eighth-grader said of Session. "We have a good coaching staff. Each coach has a specialty and they can give us the attention we need."
      And a good scolding. Loafing means extra laps.
      "I'm not going for that today," Session shouted to a young boy who waltzed his way through a timed 200-meter run. "Hard work is the key to success."
      Coaches are supported by an active parent network that assists with bowl-a-thons, raffles, bake sales, car washes and obtaining sponsorship to fund activities and travel. They sit in stands during practice. Some work concession stands.
      Others, like Collette Hinton, mother of 6-year sprinter Jarod Belvin and 9-year sprinter and long jumper Briony Hinton, man stopwatches, log times and monitor the young athletes.
      Hinton appreciates the structured coaching approach. Children learn camaraderie and the value of preparation in sports and in life.
      Session said word-of-mouth has increased club membership at least two-fold: Parents spread the word to other parents about the affable coaches and athletes tell friends interested in track about the coaches' professionalism, family atmosphere and trips to the nation's largest youth track meets.
      In her three years with the club, 14-year-old Jamicia Johnson, a national-caliber talent in the shot put and discus, has been to Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix, Baton Rouge, La., and Los Angeles, among other places.
      "Traveling is probably the most fun part of track and field," the O'Callaghan Middle School eighth-grader said.
      "The trips give these kids an opportunity to visit places they might have never gone and open their eyes to the world around them," said coach Andrew Brass Jr., part of three Big Sky conference championship teams as a sprinter at Northern Arizona University and a rival of Session's while at Western High.
      Discipline is priority one, Brass said, then comes track and field. The philosophy attracts top talent, he said. There are approximately seven youth clubs catering to athletes from ages 6 to 15.
      "We've got some really good kids who are really good people," Session said. "We've also got some kids who will be big-time in (track and field) the next couple years. We've had excellent talent in the past, but this group of kids is phenomenal. Keep your eyes open."
      And your stopwatches ready.
      Eighth-grader Brandon Burnett will attend Centennial High next year and plans to compete in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. His performance and preparation on and off the track will help Session gauge his effectiveness as a coach.