NATCHEZ — Legs were churning at Natchez High School Thursday afternoon as the Miss-Lou Track Camp kicked off.

Natchez track coach Larry Wesley, along with other area coaches and former track standouts were on a mission to teach local youth about track and field, and to potentially open them up to the sport.

“We are introducing track and field to these kids,” said Nook Logan, who is helping coach the camp. “And some of the kids are in middle school and already run, so it is a good thing to keep them going in the summer.”

The camp encompasses nearly every track race and field event, and even stretches beyond what happens on the track itself.

“The kids are learning good hand-eye coordination, healthy eating habits and leadership along with the events,” Wesley said. “I figured it was good for us to get out and do stuff like this and maybe they will catch on and say, ‘hey, lets try and stay healthy and do activities like this.’ That is really what it is about, finding activities to do.”

But Wesley’s mind is also brewing another idea.

“Now that we have a winning program, everybody wants to be a part a summer track team. If they catch onto this, I can start a team in the next few years or so. That is my hope and dream, to start a summer track team.”

Along with Wesley and Logan, the likes of coach Benta Thomas from Jefferson County High School and Kedrieck Gibbons, who ran track at Florida State were at the camp to pass along knowledge of the sport.

“They came back to give to the community and I really like that,” Wesley said.

Although track and field may not dominate like football, basketball or baseball, both Wesley and Logan stressed the importance of the sport and the impact it can have for athletes in other athletic areas.

“Any sport you play, this is the fundamentals of it,” Wesley said. “Track and field is the skeleton. You find out what kind of athletes you have through track and field.”

Logan echoed Wesley’s thoughts.

“Track may not be your main sport, but it will help enhance your ability in other sports,” he said. “We are trying to teach the kids the correct way to run and to have that translate to other sports as well.”

Wesley is even getting to work some of his NHS track team members.

“Three or four of my seventh graders who run track for me are out here,” Wesley said. “So I know they are already working. And that shows they are hungry for track.”

The camp will continue through Saturday, but the last day to sign up is today.

The camp is from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and the registration fee is $50.

The camp is open for boys and girls ages 4-18.