SPARQ Track Club

SPARQ Track Club is a youth athletics organization based in Sarasota, Florida, offering competitive athletic training for students ages 5 to 18, primarily in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The club serves young people from low- to moderate-income communities and is affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a nonprofit volunteer sports organization focused on amateur sports and physical fitness.

Founded in fall 2021 by Coach Sheldon Cantrell through personal investment, SPARQ initially aimed to involve 15 youth athletes in the 2022 track and field season. Word-of-mouth outreach by its coaching staff led more than 100 student athletes to register within three weeks. The club’s purpose is to prepare young people for life’s journey through the discipline of athletic training and to encourage them to become positive leaders in their communities.

SPARQ offers a coached track and field program, with registration and season scheduling information available to families. Its reported achievements include three national champions, 10 high school state champions, more than 25 national All-Americans, and over 300 awards.