Young athletes from all over the country are expected to take part in Hercules Wimbledon's Young Athletes open meeting which is being staged at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday, April 7.

The meeting, which is being staged for the 32nd time, has proved a valuable stepping stone for many youngsters aiming to compete in the Olympics.

Teenager Adam Gemili, who made his Olympic debut by reaching the 100m semi-final at last year's London Games, made a double appearance in the 2011 Hercules Wimbledon Young Athletes open meeting where he won the U20 100m and 200m in 10.75secs and 22.02secs, which are currently the meeting records for the events.

Past winners include Olympic sprinter Montell Douglas, who still holds the women's U17 100m and 200m records of 11.9secs and 24.6secs she set in 2002 while another Olympian, Emeka Udechuku still holds the men's U17 shot and discus records of 18.03m and 57.18m he set in 1995.

One of the longest standing meeting records was set by Olympic marathon runner Mark Steinle. As an U13, he set the 1,500m record of four minutes, 41.5secs in 1987.

Traditionally, the young athletes meeting has frequently featured youngsters from overseas and last year a team from the Czech Republic club T J Liaz from Jablonec took part.

Two of the meeting records were set by foreign athletes - Cuban Nieves Luna set the women's U17 shot mark with 12.26m in 2008, while Yanis Ramirez from Nicaragua holds the women's U17 javelin record with a throw of 50.22m achieved in 2006.

Details of the meeting, including the events, a timetable, how to get to Crystal Palace and an online entry form can be found on the Hercules Wimbledon website at herculeswimbledonac.org.uk/YA-Open.html.

The closing date for entries is Friday, March 22. Any questions about entries should be addressed to the entries coordinator Sheila White at sheila@herculeswimbledonac.org.uk Entries cost £4 for the first event and £3 for each subsequent event.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 11am with the U13 girls 1,500m and the U15 girls high jump, U13 and U15 girls and the U15 boys long jump. The final event, at around 5pm, is the men's U20 200m.