Hershey's=happiness - Tip-Off

Parks & Recreation, Oct, 2003

Best known as the "Sweetest Place on Earth" because of its gift for making chocolates, Hershey, Pa., was equally sweet for nearly 500 young athletes (ages 9-14) as they competed in Hershey's North American Track and Field Youth Program finals on Aug. 9.

Implemented in 1975 as a playground track and field meet, the Hershey program has become the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America. The program is supported by NRPA, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

With more than 400,000 children participating each year, representing more than 3,000 communities across the U.S. and Canada, Hershey's track and field program promotes physical fitness through basic track and field events and encourages children to be their best.

This year's participants competed in events ranging from the standing long jump to the softball throw and a variety of running events. The winners are listed on the next page. For additional results from this year's event and more information about the program, go to www.hersheystrackandfield.com.

Girls, 9-10

Standing Long Jump Patience Santini, Huron Valley, Mich., 7'11"

Softball Throw Hailey Smith, Leesburg, Va., 121'7"

50-Meter Dash Carissa Hill, Sugarland, Texas, 7.76

100-Meter Dash Brianna Smith, Chicago, Ill., 14.31

200-Meter Dash Tanisha Wilson, Atlanta, Ga., 30.85

400-Meter Dash Brie Roller, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., 1:06.13

Girls, 11-12

Standing Long Jump Timia Ingram, Reynoldsburg, Ontario, 7'9.5"

Softball Throw Jayme Carbon, Auburn, Wash., 168'6"

100-Meter Dash Stacey-Ann Smith, Bloomfield, Conn., 12.77

200-Meter Dash Serene Williams, Wittman, Ariz., 26.86

400-Meter Dash Diana Boultbee, Belleville, Ontario, 1:02.30

800-Meter Run Kevyn Tracy, Atlanta, Ga., 2:27.39

Girls, 13-14

Standing Long Jump Nachelle Stewart, Spanish Fork, Utah, 8'7"

Softball Throw Tandra Patterson, Pascagoula, Miss., 185'9"

100-Meter Dash Dianna Rhodes, Georgiana, Ala., 12.74

200-Meter Dash Gloria Roberts, North Las Vegas, Nev., 26.06

800-Meter Run Layne Moore, Emporia, Kan., 2:21.48

1600-Meter Run Marie Lawrence, Sparks, Nev., 5:08.40

Boys, 9-10

Standing Long Jump John Kramer, Glastonbury, Conn., 7'1.25"

Softball Throw Darnell Williams, Knoxville, Tenn., 154'5"

50-Meter Dash Israel Smallwood, Coffeyville, Kan., 7.57

100-Meter Dash Angelo Gardner, Somerset, N.J., 14.12

200-Meter Dash Trevante Ebron, Dallas, Texas, 29.13

400-Meter Dash Tony McConico, Fulton, Ga., 1:06.24

Boys, 11-12

Standing Long Jump Kaiuway Boima, New Britain, Conn., 8'6.75"

Softball Throw Brian Falta, Sterling Height, Ohio, 208'4"

100-Meter Dash Carlton Best, Jr., Upper Marlboro, Md., 12.98

200-Meter Dash Michael Garrick, San Ramon, Calif., 27.02

400-Meter Dash Justin Chambers, Acworth, Ga., 58.73

800-Meter Run Billy Zile, Saunderstown, R.I., 2:20.61

Boys, 13-14

Standing Long Jump David Beery, Belgrade, Mont., 9'5.50"

Softball Throw Michael Odell, Kodiak, Alaska, 238'1"

100-Meter Dash Issac Kerr, Oklahoma City, Okla., 11.80

200-Meter Dash Gordon Warner, Miami, Fla., 24.15

800-Meter Run Blake Bowers, Sherwood, N.D., 2:04.87

1600-Meter Run Andrew Perkins, Juneau, Wis., 4:41.25