Cheetahs club track begins

The Calabasas Cheetahs Club, the Valley Youth Conference’s newest team, will kick off its first track season in March, with cross-country slated to begin in August. The club is a nonprofit organization formed last year to promote safe, enjoyable and empowering athletic activities for young people, according to club officials.

Youth on the Cheetahs Track Team will compete with other teams in the Valley Youth Conference from various areas of L.A. There are still slots open for youth ages 5-15.

The Cheetahs have five age-based youth divisions for both boys and girls. Practice sessions are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at Calabasas High School. The team utilizes the high school’s new state-of-the-art Tartan track.

Leading the team is head coach Johnny Gray, 42, a four-time Olympian and U.S. Olympian bronze medallist in the 800 meters. Gray will supervise the Cheetahs’ other coaches and also work with the division teams.

The $150 registration fee covers the cost of uniforms, warmups, pictures, ribbons and trophies. Parents may register their children by mail. To request an application or receive additional information, please call Steve Smith, founder and president of the Calabasas Cheetahs, at (818) 347-0800.