Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program

Parks & Recreation, Oct, 2000

The weather was perfect. The athletes excited and ready to compete. With friends and family on hand for support, and volunteers present to make certain that everything ran smoothly, 1960 Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson started the first race of the day. This was the scene at the 23rd North American Final of Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program, in Hershey, Pa., on Saturday, August 12.

Since 1978, more than 300,000 children (ages 9 to 14) in thousands of communities across North America have participated in local track and field events sponsored by their local park and recreation departments, schools, and civic organizations.

In addition to participation, the Hershey's Youth Program and the National Recreation and Park Association encourage youth to become involved in activities that promote an active and healthy lifestyle.

It all Starts Locally

While the overall structure and participant progression of the Hershey's Youth Program varies from state to state and province to province, the goal of providing an opportunity for participation in the basic track and field events of running, jumping, and throwing is consistent. NRPA has been a sponsor of the Hershey Youth Program since the beginning. NRPA encourages each and every community to become involved in the program by either hosting a local, district, or state/provincial meet or by working with a local school to coordinate a meet. Information on the Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program, as well as an official rule book, are available on NRPA's Web Site at www. activeparks.org/programs.

"I have been involved with the Hershey's Youth Program at the local, state, and national level since 1981," said Kathy J. Spangler, CPRP, director of NRPA National Programs. "I believe it's among the finest youth programs available to recreation departments, and I encourage every community to become involved. Not only does the program support and further the healthy and active lifestyle goals of NRPA, it also provides a quality program for youth in the community. A successful program requires at least one person in the department to champion and coordinate the community volunteers and resources needed. If you are not currently involved in supporting this program, I encourage and challenge you to find out more and become involved in 2001."

More than a Meet

Eight regional teams, consisting of 60 boys and girls, are selected from the thousands of state and provincial meet winners. The 480 North American finalists are treated to all-expenses-paid four-day trip to Hershey for the North American Final weekend. In addition to the track meet on Saturday, finalists:

* meet athletes from other states and Canadian provinces

* are housed at Elizabeth-town (Pa.) College

* meet former Olympians

* tour the world's largest chocolate factory

* spend a day at Hershey-park amusement complex

* visit Hershey's Chocolate World visitors center

* unwind at a post-meet celebration followed by a dance.

"It is truly more than a track meet," says medalist Johnson. "It's really a life experience these young people will look forward to and look back on with a great deal of pride."

HERSHEY TRACK & FIELD 2000 RESULTS

MARK NAME TOWN REGION

GIRL'S LONG JUMP AGE 9-10 7'-4 3/4" Tamieka Pate Bronx, NY R-7

BOYS' LONG JUMP AGE 9-10 7'-1 1/2" Stefan Lawson Biloxi, MS R-4

GIRL'S SOFTBALL THROW AGE 9-10 151'-0" Lauren Rice Texas City, TX R-4

BOYS' SOFTBALL THROW AGE 9-10 172'-1" Aaron Wilkins Bristol, CT R-6

GIRLS 1600M AGE 13-14 5:12.25 Sarah Bowman Warrington, VA R-8

BOYS' 1600M AGE 13-14 4:48.22 Jay Morrill Collingwood, ON R-1

GIRL'S 800M AGE 11-12 2:24.76 Janean Morris Brooklyn, NY R-7

BOY'S 800M AGE 11-12 2:18.29 Philip Workman Brookings, SD R-5

GIRL'S 800M AGE 13-14 2:21.35 Chantelle Dron Candia, NH R-6

BOYS' 800M AGE 13-14 2:04.66 Ryan Fyfe Edmonton, AB R-5

GIRLS' LONG JUMP AGE 11-12 7'-8" Jami Edwards Madison, GA R-8

BOYS' LONG JUMP AGE 11-12 8'-2 1/2" Robert Steele Jr. Glen Ellyn, IL R-1

GIRLS' SOFT BALL THROW AGE 11-12 180'-1" Nikki Jo Rotolo Rome, NY R-7

BOYS' SOFTBALL THROW AGE 11-12 230'-1" D.J. Pettis Burkeville, VA R-8

GIRLS' 50M AGE 9-10 0:07.89 Sarah Jeanne Mitchell Wellington, KS R-5

BOYS' 50M AGE 9-10 7:54 Cameron Cheatham Kalamazoo, MI R-1

GIRLS' 100M AGE 9-10 0:14.13 Ashley Fleming Marietta, GA R-8

BOYS' 100M AGE 9-10 0:13.73 Nana Ocran East Hartford, CT R-6

GIRLS' 100M AGE 11-12 13:62 Carissa Bennett Portland, OR R-3

BOYS' 100M AGE 11-12 0:13.42 Nick Bonnett Kelowna, BC R-3

GIRLS' 100M AGE 13-14 0:13.27 Lollie Onipede Oakland, CA R-2

BOYS' 100M AGE 13-14 11:17 Jamal John Toronto, ON R-1

GIRLS' LONG JUMP AGE 13-14 8'-3 1/4" Jasmin Wright Yuba Sutter, CA R-2

BOYS' LONG JUMP AGE 13-14 9'-4 1/4" Ross Horsey Bridgeville, DE R-7

GIRLS' SOFTBALL THROW AGE 13-14 187'-9" Amber Gobel Grafton, WV R-8

BOYS' SOFTBALL THROW AGE 13-14 256'-3" Nathan Epley North Platte, NE R-5

GIRLS' 200M AGE- 9-10 0:29.97 Chanel Kellyman Scarborough, ON R-1

BOYS' 200M AGE 9-10 0:30.92 Jordan Cornilsen Clinton, IA R-1

GIRLS' 200M AGE 11-12 29:45 Katherine Hayes Aurora, CO R-5