About Atlanta Track Club Youth Team - Speed Academy

The Atlanta Track Club Youth Team - Speed Academy offers an inclusive and dynamic training environment for kids in grades 4-8. Designed for athletes of all ability and experience levels, Speed Academy focuses on enhancing speed, strength, agility, and explosiveness through a structured program. Emphasizing proper form and mechanics, the program aims to build a solid foundation for running—a crucial skill in nearly every sport.

Participants develop essential power, speed, and conditioning during the winter, setting them up for success in the upcoming track and field season and in other sports they may pursue. This program welcomes young athletes from various sports backgrounds, helping them improve their overall athletic performance.

Virtual Preseason Team Meeting
Learn more about the Youth Team's Speed Academy from the program's coaches and administrators on Sunday, December 1 from 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. via this ZOOM link.

Practice Information

• Practice Dates: December 2 - February 8
• Days: Mondays and Wednesdays

• Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Location: Marist School

Optional Competitions

• Indoor meet in January TBA *meet entry fee and travel expenses are the responsibility of parents/guardians
• Earlybird outdoor meet TBA *Atlanta Track Club covers meet entry fee

Registration price:

*The child must be a member at the time of registration, not just the parent

Registration Includes:

• T-shirt

We never want money to prevent any child from participating, so we offer need-based scholarships. For more information about need-based scholarships contact youthteam@atlantatrackclub.org.

Speed Academy Coaching Staff

Mike Brown - Program Manager - Youth Running and Operations, Head Track & Field and Speed Academy Coach

Coach Brown is a graduate of Villanova University, where he was an All-American and National Champion in the DMR (400) and captain of the track team while specializing in the 400-meter hurdles. He moved to Atlanta in 2005 to train at Georgia Tech and continue his post-collegiate career. Coach Brown has made several appearances at the USATF National Championships with a few U.S. top 15 rankings in the 400 hurdles. On top of Coach Brown's many personal accomplishments, he has 20+ years of track & field coaching at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. Outside of the running world, he is married and has four kids. He can be found on a track coaching or on a soccer field cheering for his kids.

Antonio Abney - Assistant Speed Academy and Track & Field Coach

Antonio Abney is a Graduate of Saint Augustine University. At Saint Augustine's University, he accumulated 17 All-American accolades, 6 Nationals Championships, and a Division-II National Record in the 4x400. Coach Abney now resides in Georgia with his wife and three children. When he is not coaching, he works as an operations supervisor, personal trainer, and wellness coach. Overall, Coach Abney enjoys helping others through fitness and emotional intelligence. He strives to find the correct balance between mind, body, and spirit, as he believes it is an essential step in functional fitness.