Inner-City Games to hold track and tennis clinics

Friday, May 30, 1997 | 11:44 a.m.

Local youths will get a chance to practice their skills when the Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games conducts a track and field clinic and the final tennis clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

More than 600 children are expected to participate in the first track and field clinic at Cimarron-Memorial High School, 2301 Tenaya Way. Bob Peck and Steve Mead of the Las Vegas Parks and Leisure Services Department will lead the clinics for the second consecutive year.

"The first clinic in track and field is primarily to teach the basic skills," Mead said. "The clinics are enjoyable because we are able to offer opportunities to kids who don't always get a chance to participate. The enthusiasm on the part of the kids is the most exciting part of the Inner-City Games."

The sites for the tennis clinics will be Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. Seventh St., and Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave. The 400 youths expected to participate will receive their Inner-City Games medals to mark their successful completion of the tennis program. The top players from each zone will advance to the tennis finals June 7 at UNLV.

George MacCall, captain of the 1965-67 U.S. Davis Cup team and leader of the Inner-City Games tennis clinics, is excited about the progress of the participants and the upcoming tennis finals.

"We will qualify a total of 120 players for the finals, representing each of the three zones," MacCall said. "Equally important is the fact that 70 percent of the kids in the tennis program are between the ages of 7 and 10. As a result, the kids are introduced to organized tennis at a very young age and can learn the basics of the game."

Although only a select group of players will have an opportunity to participate in the tennis finals, all the participants receive a medal and T-shirt for their effort.

The Inner-City Games will remain in full swing throughout the summer. From now until Sept. 6, Las Vegas area youths will be able to participate in clinics and competitions in hip-hop dance, volleyball, swimming and basketball.