by James Tate
5th Annual GoldenSprint Challenge
Background
The annual GoldenSprint Challenge track meet is named after Dutch – Ghanaian sprinter, bobsledder, and 2018 skeleton Olympian, Akwasi Frimpong. The event aims to inspire the youth to participate in sports. The program involves young volunteers in organizing sports events.
The Hope of a Billion Foundation
All 2023 5th Annual GoldenSprint Challenge event proceeds go to the Hope of a Billion Foundation (HOAB). The foundation aims to encourage, engage, and empower a billion lives in underserved communities worldwide. Sports, business, and educational opportunities are the key elements of the foundation’s mission. The fastest men and women took home a golden shoe trophy; just like Frimpong received in the form of a golden sprint spikes from his former Dutch sprint coach Sammy Monsels, when Frimpong became Dutch junior champion in the 200m sprints in 2003.
Through this annual event, Frimpong hopes to pay forward the support he received from his coach as a young sprinter. The event started in 2012 with ten sprinters. Today there were 135 sprinters from all over the area and 300 fans cheering their teams on.
GoldenSprint Challenge
2023 Golden shoe award winners
Girls- Amare Harlan, Nadia Chiara, Desirae Riehle
Boys- Colby Anderson.
Brock Parson, Ryan Cahill and Caleb Doman
Volunteers made the event possible (Robin Bryant, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Erica Frimpong, Nic Bryant). USATF officials – Gerard Collet and Patrice Bolen. Partners; Runners’ Corner, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Utah Valley University athletic trainers, McGee’s Stamp & Trophy, and the Utah Olympic Oval.
Results of the event can be found via:
http://results.runnercard.com/Results/results.jsp?meetid=1004460
For more info about the event, visit: www.goldensprintchallenge.com
photos courtesy Jim Ballard Sprint Challenge – 02/25/2023 – Utah Prep Pics (smugmug.com)