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Vets Stadium open to all for daily exercise, practices

The Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna will be opened to the public for anyone who wishes to use it to get out and walk, run or exercise beginning Monday, Jan. 14 at 5:00 a.m., according to the Acting Director of the Sports Complex Office, Henry Tavake.

“This is for the public and it is free. For anyone who wants a safe environment to walk and exercise in, I invite you down to the stadium starting on Monday,” said Tavake. “The restrooms will be opened, also, and if you are tired, the stands are right there to rest in the shade,” he stated.

“I believe that this is the first time the stadium will be open for the public for this type of service. We need to get everyone to start exercising more for overall better health. Just to get out and walk is a great exercise,” Tavake said.

The stadium will not only be open to the public throughout the day and the week starting on Monday, it will also be used by the Ohana Running Club to train future track and field stars as well to get them ready to compete for American Samoa someday — in events such as the Pacific Games, Oceania Championships, World Championships or maybe even the Olympics.

Samoa News spoke with the head of the Ohana Running Club, Clayton ‘Boom’ Mahuka about the free training the Club is offering at the stadium.

“I encourage everyone, especially the parents of the kids in the Ohana Running Club, to come out and take advantage of this free service to walk, run or exercise at the stadium,” said Mahuka. “If any of you parents out there have kids and want them to join the club, bring them down to the stadium when we train on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. to sign up. While they are training, you can exercise as well by walking the track. I think this is a ‘win win’ situation for the whole family to get involved in and there is no cost to join,” said Mahuka.

There will also be a Track and Field meet at the stadium on Monday, Jan. 21, starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is a Federal Holiday.

Mahuka also noted that those who intend to use the track should be aware of the rules for taking care of the stadium.

Those rules include:

1) While using the track for walking and exercising, please stay off the grass.

2) No bikes are allowed on the premises.

3) No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the premises.

4) No loitering.

5) Throw away any trash that you may have in the trash container.

“I think this is a great idea for the track being opened to the public. I wish for everyone to work together in taking care of our only field as we use it for our benefit in getting healthy,” said Mahuka.