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Hershey’s Track & Field Games celebrates 30th year with yesterday’s legends and tomorrow’s rising stars

Posted August 6th, 2007 at 5:09 PM by Jessica Galvano

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Notorious for it’s beloved chocolates, Hershey recently celebrated a thirty-year commitment to youth athletics. At this year’s 30th Hershey’s Track & Field Games, Olympic icons joined 560 youth athletes in an effort to promote active lifestyles among North America’s children and teens.

Originally founded by Dr. Donald P. Cohen, Hershey’s Track & Field Games had an early beginning in 1975. Thirty years later, the event has gained international acclaim; this year, Hershey’s field of over 500 North American youth athletes proudly welcomed 16 of their Chinese peers in competition.

hersheys track and field michael johnson carl lewis and other legends Along with the increasing global interest in the Hershey Games, Olympic athletes have begun to involve themselves in encouraging the world’s youth to embrace fitness as a part of everyday life. Legendary figures of years past to attend to event included Carl Lewis, Bruce Jenner, Michael Johnson, and Rafer Johnson.

They were also joined by USA Track & Field athletes Monique Henderson, Bershawn Jackson, and Hazel Clark in exhibition races to commemorate the meet’s 30th anniversary.

Despite the star-studded appeal, youth competition remained the main event. Top finishers by gender and age include:

Boys Age 9-10:

50m—Kincaid Lewis, Dickson, TN (7.76)

100m–Alonzo Ruffin, Howard County, MD (14.55)

200m—Shannon Brantley, Galena Park, TX (29.83)

400m—Nolan Wallenkamp, Grafton, WI (1:06.28)

4X100 Relay—Jorgio Lewis, Demarcus Mitchell, Tyler Terry, Hakim Montgomery, Carrollton, GA (56.87)

Standing Long Jump—Taten Knight, Logan, UT (7-01.25)

Softball Throw—Lepale Ridley, Nashville, TN (161-06.00)

Boys Age 11-12:

100m—Israel Lacy, Altadena, CA (12.89)

200m—Jared Delane, Windsor, CT (27.64)

400m—Ian Parnell, Westchester, NY (58.06)

800m—Ryan Silva, Tuscon, AZ (2:13.65)

4X100 Relay—Djuan Piper, Jamil Wilson-Jones, Danny Wilson, Tere Calloway, Seattle, WA (52.74)

Standing Long Jump—Max Doran, Trafford, PA (8-11.00)

Softball Throw—Patrick Ruotlo, Peabody, MA (203-11.00)

Boys Age 13-14:

100m—Charles Showers, Dover, DE (12.00)

200m—Marlon Laidlaw-Allen, Scarborough (22.55)

800m—Jonathan Settembri, Brampton, ON-CAN (2:10.43)

1600m—Connor Darlington, Whitby, ON-CAN (4:41.23)

4X100 Relay—Xavier Caldwell, Wallace LaQuintas, Timothy Brown, Devonte Haggerty, Tyler, TX (46.81)

Standing Long Jump—Keelin Smith, Ft. Pierce, FL (9-05.25)

Softball Throw—Brett Burns, Vienna, WV (234-01.00)

Girls Age 9-10:

50m—Jamilah Vizcarrando, Bronx, NY (7.78)

100m—Kealee Sadler, Dallas, TX (14.75)

200m—Jadyn Skeen, Brampton, ON-CAN (29.25)

400m—Miriam Abdul-Rashid, Oshawa, ON-CAN (1:07.83)

4X100 Relay—Zaedrea Robinson, Kayausha Walker, Javonna Powell, Seattle, WA (59.44)

Standing Long Jump—Shania Scheidt, Canton, SD (6-11.25)

Softball Throw—Amy Duggan, Norwood, MA (136-00.00)

Girls Age 11-12:

100m—Clemence Paiement, Laval, QC-CAN (12.93)

200m—Alexandra Diaz, San Jose, CA (27.99)

400m—Allison Fraser, Guelph, ON-CAN (1:03.09)

800m—Isabelle Connell, San Jose, CA (2:25.29)

4X100 Relay—Chante Williams, Alexis Marsh, Janica Adams, Amanda-May Wilson, ON-CAN (53.25)

Standing Long Jump—Emily Lavrenz, St. Michael, MN (7-11.50)

Softball Throw—Michaela Mestly, Kearney, NE (171-10.00)

Girls Age 13-14:

100m—Valencia Hannon, Elmont, NY (12.90)

200m—Terry Martin, Vancouver, WA (26.23)

800m—Destiny Jenkins, Rockdale County, GA (2:22.78)

1600m—Claudia Francis, Queens, NY (5:01.24)

4X100 Relay—Carissa Hill, Aminh Adeyemi, Shavon Chenier, Mona Landry, Pasadena, TX (50.42)

Standing Long Jump—Isolde Hannan, Bowling Green, OH (8-08.75)

Softball Throw—Kaitana Martinez, Blaine, ID (79-06.00)

Carl Lewis and Athletics Canada have also partnered up with Hershey in the creation of “Hershey’s FastTrack to Sports,” a program that will serve to not only instruct young athletes in track and field technique, but also, to engender sportsman-like conduct in the nation’s up and coming running enthusiasts.

Research sources and for more information: [Hershey Track and Field], [Onekit.enr-corp.com]

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Hershey Track and Field

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