Russellville Parks and Recreation Department offering free youth speed camp July 16

Do you feel the need? The need for speed?

If your young athlete does then the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department has just the event for them later this month.

Peyton Higgins, a three-time All-State football player at Mars Hill Bible School from 2017-2020 and a new coach at Russellville High School, will be leading a free speed camp for third- to sixth-grade boys and girls at Golden Tiger Stadium on Thursday, July 16 from 6-8 p.m.

“We feel like this will be a great event for young athletes, no matter what sport they play or want to play,” Aaron Page with Russellville Parks and Rec told the Franklin Free Press. “It will be good for them to learn how to run the right way, how to move their bodies, how to get faster. I know Peyton is excited to be running this.

“We want to get kids in the community active and involved. This is a free event and it’s open to everyone, not just those that live in Franklin County. It’s just another great way to get kids out,” he added.

In a Russellville Parks and Rec Department Facebook post announcing the event it stated that it will be “a great opportunity for boys and girls to learn from one of the area’s top athletes while improving their athletic skills in a fun, competitive environment.”

Higgins, a new coach at RHS, is certainly one of the best athletes the area has produced in recent years. In addition to his three All-State First Team selections at Mars Hill, he was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 2A Back of the Year in 2020 and finished his prep football career with 100 touchdowns and just under 9,000 all-purpose yards. In four seasons with the Troy University Trojans, he made 53 appearances at wide receiver, catching 84 passes for 861 yards and three touchdowns. Higgins was also a factor on special teams for the Trojans with 33 career punt and kickoff returns for a total of 329 yards. He was an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention his senior season.

During the camp, boys and girls will learn from Higgins proper running technique, speed and agility training and other skills.

The Russellville Park and Rec Department is encouraging those that are interested to pre-register. For more information, visit the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department on Facebook, call the department at 256-332-8770 or email Aaron Page at aaron.page@rcs.k12.al.us.

“We’re very excited about this event,” Page said. “This is the first time we’ve done this, but it won’t be the last.”