USA Track & Field … See It, Feel It, Experience It!

Formerly the Warren-Massillon Striders Track Club, Flight101 was an affiliate of the  Warren-Strider Track and Field Club Inc., a nonprofit organization, founded by Jack Thornton, Jr. former head track and cross country coach at Warren Western Reserve High School, for nearly 20 years. 

The idea for the Striders developed from the WWR Track-a-Teers, which was the unofficial indoor training and conditioning program for Western Reserve High School .  The winter program was eventually extended into the summer to provide additional track and field development and competition for Reserve student athletes.  In 1986, an affiliate was established in Stark County and by 1993 the Striders had grown to over 290 members, representing elementary and secondary schools in Trumbull, Stark, Summit, Wayne and Tuscarawas counties.

In our 21 year history many of our athletes have gone on to national prominence in track and field.  We have had several Ohio High School State Champions, several Division I, II and NAIA collegiate champions, with two Striders invited to compete at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Trials.  At the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic level Striders have qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships in 19 of the last 21 years. 

Flight101 Track Club is a member of the Lake Erie District of USA Track and Field (USATF) the national governing body for track and field, long distance running and race walking in the United States.  USATF encompasses the world's oldest organize sports, the most watched events of Olympic broadcast, the number one high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 50 million adult runners in the United States.  The mission of the USATF is to provide vision and leadership to the sport of track and field in the United States, and promote the pursuit of excellence from youth to masters, from grass roots to the Olympic Games. 

Flight101 has afforded its members the opportunity to develop new friendships; provided publicity and exposure of their talents to college recruiters; and encouraged parents to interact with their children.  In addition club members have developed a respect for each other while being humble in victory or defeat.  Club members learn the value of hard work, sacrifice and team work and are encouraged to pursue healthy lifestyles.  The Flight101 Track Club has provided a solid foundation for area youth as well as those track and field enthusiast who have embraced the Club and its goals.

Coach Jack “JT” Thornton with National Qualifiers at 2001 National in Sacramento CA