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Youth Track and Field Organizations
COLGATE WOMENS GAMES
New York January February
In this issue we focus on the Colgate
Womens Games because they are a winter (indoor) competition and because they are the largest amateur track series in
the nation. These games started in 1973 with 5,000 New York area participants and currently have more than 11,000 young women
(elementary though college) from all over the east coast (Massachusetts to Virginia) participating. We
encourage youth track and field organizations interested in submitting profiles to contact editor@youthtrack.org or phone Dr. Jesse Y. Harris (732) 747-1752
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Colgate Womens Games *
P.O. Box 201, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11202
Fact Sheet Colgate Womens Games
OVERVIEW
Colgate-Palmolive launched the first Colgate Womens Games in 1973, with 5,000 young women from the New York area participating
in the initial series. Today, more than 11,000 registrants from all over the East Coast from Boston to Virginia compete. Four
weeks of preliminary and semi-final competition at Brooklyns Pratt Institute culminate in the finals held at the world-renowned
Madison Square Garden.
The Games website at www.colgategames.com posts scores and points for all place-finishing participants so track stars from all over the country can now compare their
times and scores with Colgate Womens Games competitors in their own age/grade division. College recruiters and members of
the media can follow results after each preliminary meet as well.
OBJECTIVES
The Colgate Womens Games endeavor to provide athletic competition as an important ingredient in helping girls and young
women develop a sense of personal destiny and self-worth, instill the importance of educational achievement and provide a
training ground for those who might not otherwise participate in an organized sport.
ELIGIBILITY
All girls elementary grade 1 and up and young women who can attend and participate in the preliminaries at Brooklyns Pratt
Institute are eligible. No experience in track and field is necessary, but all girls of school age must be enrolled and attending
school to take part.
WHY TRACK AND FIELD
Track and field is the great equalizer; it is unmatched for the health and mental well being it provides for experienced
and novice athletes alike, and no expensive equipment is required.
AGE/GRADE DIVISIONS
Competition is divided into six age or grade divisions: Elementary A (grades 1 through 3), Elementary B (grades 4 through
5), Mid School (grades 6 through 8), High School (grades 9 through 12), College/Open and 30s-Plus.
EVENTS
There are eight events: 55-meter dash, 55-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 1,500-meter run,
high jump and shot put.
MEET DIRECTOR
Track coach Fred Thompson is the founder and meet director of the Colgate Womens Games. He also is the founder and coach
of the Atoms Track Club in Brooklyn and former U.S. Olympic Track Team coach.
LOCATIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals are held at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Finals are held each year at Madison
Square Garden. The track at Pratt Institute was the first 200-meter indoor facility to utilize metric measurements and is
laid out according to international specifications. The running surface composition is Chem-Turf and oval dash lanes are 36
inches wide.
GRANTS-IN-AID
In addition to trophies and medals, Colgate awards educational grants-in-aid totaling $60,000 to the top three point scorers
at the end of the series. Colgate has awarded nearly $1 million in educational grants-in-aid to date.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The Colgate Womens Games have become a proven stepping stone for future Olympians. Gold medalist Diane Dixon began running
in the Games in 1977, and fellow Olympian Cheryl Toussaint Eason is now the Games Coordinator. Countless participants compete
in national championship meets and at least 17 former Olympians have participated in the Games or become Games officials.
By requiring school attendance to participate, the Colgate Womens Games offer an incentive for young people to complete
their education. And with supplemental grants, they are encouraged to continue their education through college and beyond.
The Colgate Womens Games provide a unique vehicle for college recruitment of female athletes. University and college recruiters
are often present at Colgate meets or request results sheets, and todays participants are among the most heavily recruited
students in the nation.
The Colgate Womens Games offer young people something positive to do. With financial support for after-school activities
all but eliminated in far too many school districts, especially for girls, the Games and preparation for competition present
a positive alternative.
The Colgate Womens Games are the second-longest running corporate-sponsored event benefiting our nations young people.
Colgate also sponsors the longest-running program: Colgate Youth for America, a community service awards program now
in its 29th year.
The depth and length of commitment to these programs is testimony to the importance that Colgate-Palmolive places on our
countrys most important resource, our children. Colgate hopes their success will encourage other organizations to support
similar corporate-involvement programs.
To find out more about Colgate-Palmolives various programs, write to:
Colgate-Palmolive
Corporate Communications
300 Park Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
Or visit our website at www.colgate.com.
· · from www.colgategames.com
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Colgate Games Meet Results
Hershey
Track & Field
The Hershey program is in its 26th year. This program has participants
from every state in the USA as well as Canadian Providences. All program details, schedules, results etc. can be found at
the national website www.hersheystrackandfield.com
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Chronological
History
of Events |
Home | General Info | Key Dates | Rules & Manual | Results | Pictorial | Press Releases | History | Meet Records | Contacts
2002
25th Anniversary of the Hershey Youth Program
25th North American Final Meet to be conducted on August 10th
2001
24th North American Final Meet to Conducted on August 11
View the 2001 North American Final results new website:
www.hersheystrackandfield.com
2000
23rd North American Final Meet Conducted on August 12
View the 2000 North American Final Results
1999
22nd North American Final Meet Conducted on August 14
1998
21st North American Final Meet Conducted on August 15
Program expanded to include all Canadian provinces/territories
RCMP invited as a special guest of the program
Athletics
Canada becomes a sponsor of the program
View the 1998 North American Final Meet Pictorial "Be The Best You Can Be"
1997
20th North American Final Meet Conducted on August 9
20th Anniversary of program
20 years of Fun and Fitness
1st Jack W. Rose Memorial Award presented (Outstanding
State Chair Award)
Lawrence Best named North American Final Meet Director
1996
19th North American Final Meet Conducted on August 10
Ontario, Canada becomes part of Region 6
Jack Rose, National Final Meet Director since 1978, passes away
Name
change to Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program
1st North American Final Meet held (Canadian involvement)
1st Outstanding
State Chair/Provincial Coordinator Award presented
1995
18th National Final Meet Conducted on August 12
Housing
moves back to Elizabethtown College
1994
17th National Final Meet Conducted on August 13
2
National Final Booklets Printed - Souvenir Program and Participant Event Program
Mississippi moves from Region 8 to Region
4
1st Founders Award presented
1993
16th National Final Meet Conducted on August 14
Don
Cohen, Program Founder, awarded the National Recreation and Park Association
National Humanitarian Award
1992
15th National Final Meet Conducted on August 15
1991
14th National Final Meet Conducted on August 17
National
Meet Referee, Ed Brunner, passes away
Ken Dickey named new National Meet Referee
1st Canadian local meet held in Smiths
Falls, Ontario
1990
13th National Final Meet Conducted on August 18
Housing
moves to Millersville University, Millersville, PA
1989
12th National Final Meet Conducted on August 12
New
National Sponsor - National Association for Sport and Physical Education
Focused effort to introduce Hershey Youth Program
across the US
1988
11th National Final Meet Conducted on August 13
1987
10th National Final Meet Conducted on August 15
10
Year Anniversary - A Decade of Commitment to Youth Fitness
1986
9th National Final Meet Conducted on August 16
Special
Guest Michael Jordan
1st National Final video available to participants
1985
8th National Final Meet Conducted on August 17
Special
Guest Herschel Walker
1st Gary W. McQuaid Volunteer Award presented
1984
7th National Final Meet Conducted on August 18
Meet
moves to Henry Hershey Field, Milton Hershey School
New York (west) added to the program
Special Guest Jamaal Wilkes
1983
6th National Final Meet Conducted on August 13
Program
moves to Hershey, PA
Participants housed at Elizabethtown College
Meet held at Hersheypark Stadium
Hershey Foods
Corporation takes over as funding sponsor
Ed Brunner named Meet Referee
Special Guest Bobby Jones
1982
5th National Final Meet Conducted on August 14
Last
meet held in Charleston, West Virginia
Special Guest Jamaal Wilkes
Hershey Foods Corporation awarded the National Recreation
and Park Association
National Corporate Humanitarian Award for its involvement in the Hershey Youth
Program
1981
4th National Final Meet Conducted on August 15
Age
group changed to only include 9-14 years olds
Special Guest Nate Archibald
1980
3rd National Final Meet Conducted on August 16
Housed
at Marshall University, Run at Laidley Field
Age group changed to include 9 year olds
Special Guest Franco Harris
1979
2nd National Final Meet Conducted on August 18
National
Final Meet held at Laidley Field in Charleston, West Virginia
Special Guest Artis Gilmore
1978
1st National Final Meet Conducted on August 5
50
States plus District of Columbia
300,000 Participants in local, district, state and national meets
Age group 10-15 years
Marshall
University in Huntington, West Virginia
8 NRPA Regional Teams
Rafer Johnson presided as Grand Marshall
Special Guest
Elvin Hayes
Sponsors: Hershey Chocolate & Confectionary Division; NRPA; President's Council on Physical Fitness &
Sports; National Track and Field Hall of Fame
1977
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Southeast Regional
Meet held at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia
10 States represented
250,000 Participants in local
and state meets
1976
State Meet held in Charleston, West Virginia
10,000
Participants in local and state meets
1975
Charleston, West Virginia
Local All-Comers
Meet and Clinic held - 500 Participants |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Judy Hogarth
August 2002
(717) 534-7216
HERSHEYS TRACK & FIELD YOUTH PROGRAM
FACT SHEET
WHAT:
Hersheys
Track & Field Youth Program, 25th Anniversary.
WHO:
Boys and Girls ages 9-14.
WHEN:
April, May, June, and July - Local/District/State/Provincial
Meets
August 10, 2002 - North American Final Meet
WHERE: Local, district, state and provincial meets are held in each of the 50
states, the District of Columbia and
the provinces/territories
of Canada. State/provincial finalists are eligible for selection to regional
teams. To ensure fair representation of participants, a minimum of five and maximum
of 25 finalists are selected from each state or province to participate in the North American Final Meet at Henry Hershey
Field, on the Milton Hershey School campus, Hershey, PA.
WHY:
To provide a quality recreation and school program
where children have fun and are introduced to physical fitness through basic track and field events such as running, jumping
and throwing in Hersheys Track & Field Youth Program.
EVENTS:
TRACK
FIELD
50-meter Dash
Standing Long Jump
100-meter Dash
Softball Throw
200-meter Dash
400-meter Dash
800-meter Run
1600-meter Run
4 x 100-meter Relay
GENERAL: The Hershey Youth Program, founded in 1975 by Dr. Donald P. Cohen in Charleston, West
Virginia, has
grown from a local playground event in one community to one of the largest youth sports programs of its kind in North America. The program is designed to encourage physical fitness among youth and emphasize sportsmanship. The goal of the Hersheys Track & Field Youth Program is to teach children to be the best they can be.
If we accomplish this goal, then the program is a success, said Rafer Johnson, 1960 Olympic decathlon gold medalist
and spokesperson for the program.
The Hershey Youth Program is endorsed by the National Recreation and Park Association, the National
Association for Sport & Physical Education, the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, and Athletics Canada
and is solely funded by Hershey Foods Corporation.
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