Jordan Fields - Student Athlete - St. Johns Striders

Dedicated coaches and volunteers know how to get kids on the right track for success.  With properly trained coaches and volunteers in place combined with dedicated student athletes and supportive parents, great things can happen on the track. Furthermore, important lessons are learned that can remain with the athlete for life. 

The St. Johns Striders Track Club is a non-profit organization that was formed in 2006.  The Club started out with just 4 athletes and has grown to over 80 athletes ranging in age from 7 through 18.  The mission of the St. Johns Striders is to educate and develop track and field student athletes in a consistent and supportive mentoring environment.

Johnny Flowers (a sales representative with a pharmaceutical company) and Ricky Fields (a manager with an IT company)  formed this organization after seeing that there was a tremendous amount of interest in track and field in St. Johns County, Florida.   However, prior to 2006, there were no AAU or USATF Teams in the immediate area.  The closest teams were either in Jacksonville or Daytona.  Flowers and Fields saw a need in the community and took action to fill that need for the benefit of kids.  Both Flowers and Fields participated in collegiate sports and wanted to share their time, knowledge, and mentoring skills with kids, volunteers, and other coaches. 

Tre Akodu - 2013 High Jump National Champion

The St. Johns Striders Track Club has grown into an elite club and is recognized at both the State and National level.   There have been 12 All Americans from the St. Johns Striders at all age levels in all field events including sprints, high jumps, hurdles, and multi-events.  St. Johns Striders have helped cultivate student athletes who have gone on to  receive scholarships from schools including North Carolina, Dartmouth, and other colleges. 

Ricky Fields, co-founder and current coach with the St. Johns Striders, truly understands what it means to be a successful student athlete and the effort necessary to achieve goals on and off the track.  

The success of the Club is not a result of the efforts of a few dedicated individuals but the result of the efforts of many coaches, parents, and volunteers who have put countless hours into supporting the club and the dedication to the growth and development of the student athletes.

The success of many of the athletes on the track has given them confidence in the classroom and community.  It also has taught the kids about dedication and commitment.  We focus on the development of the "student athlete" and not just the athlete.   We hope that the lessons learned both on and off the track provide a solid foundation as the student athletes move forward with their education and careers. 

The community service, kindness, and goodwill of people like Ricky Fields, Johnny Flowers, and the many coaches, volunteers, kids, and parents associated with the St. Johns County Striders Track Club make this world a better place. 

Here is a link to the Webiste and Facebook Fan Page for the St. Johns Striders Track Club:

Official Website for the St. Johns Striders

Official Facebook Fan Page for St. Johns Striders