LINFORD Christie says kids love competition - and more than 300 youngsters who ran themselves ragged at an athletics event in Rotherham agree.
The sprinting legend dropped in on Merrill Road, Thurnscoe, and was mobbed by dozens of excited children all keen to participate in the Street Athletics project.
With the assistance of fellow Olympic star Darren Campbell they held warm up and fitness sessions before organising a series of 60m races.
Linford, an Olympic 100m gold medal winner, said: "They didn't have any worries about being beaten. It's good preparation for when they go out into the world, to learn from an early age to try their best."
Race winners qualified for a final in Manchester on September 19. The winners and runners-up in each category of the national final will win a one-year kit contract with Reebok.
The Street Athletics project aims to make fitness sessions for young people living in coalfield communities more accessible, affordable and fun.
A session to recruit adult volunteer coaches will be held in the village on July 31.
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