Sachem sports great plans to mentor young runners and track athletes again for summer camp

  Classes are winding down for the students of the Saugus Public Schools. But Chris Tarantino – a 1990 Saugus High School graduate who has a reputation for mentoring young athletes in the sports of track and field – is gearing up for the start of another Saugus Sachems track camp.

  “There was a big turnout last year – about 60 kids,” Tarantino said in a recent interview.

  “Newer families, younger families seem to have a lot of enthusiasm for what we are doing. There seems to be a want and need for this,” said Tarantino, who has been running the camp since 2006. He said he expects about 40 kids to participate in this year’s program.

  “There’s a lot of pluses to the camp,” Tarantino said.

  “The camp gives kids exposure to the sport of track and field. It teaches them social skills, keeps them moving and keeps them physically healthy,” he said.

  Tarantino said the summer program targets kids in grades one to eight in the age bracket of five to 14 years old. The program is sponsored by the town’s Youth & Recreation Department.

  Right now, Tarantino is finishing off a six-week spring program. There will be a one-week break before summer track camp begins.

  There will be a trial week beginning on June 20, Monday through Friday, with no charge and no commitment. The formal two-week camp will begin June 27 – Monday through Friday during the first week and Monday through Thursday during the second week. There will be a makeup session on that Friday, July 1, if needed, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a pasta dinner served up at Prince. The athletes will get a chance to compete at the Needham Invitational, which is set for Saturday, July 9.

  Training sessions remain at 6-8 p.m., at a cost of $200–$150 if you did the spring session and $100 if you have participated in the program for three or more years. The cost includes a camp t-shirt, uniform, pasta dinner and entry into the Needham Invite Meet.

  This year’s camp will have an optional week: July 11, Monday through Thursday, culminating with an in-house meet at Belmonte on July 16 starting at 10:00 a.m.

  Tarantino is again teaming up with Stephen Boudreau – a 1965 Saugus High School graduate and track star who later was Tarantino’s basketball coach.

  For more details, contact Interim Youth & Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes: 781-231-4022 or email ccakounes@saugus-ma.gov.