Hershey's NY State Meet

HERSHEY’S TRACK & FIELD GAMES STATE MEET ATTRACTS A RECORD NUMBER OF ATHLETES

At least Five Athletes will qualify for the North American Finals

Close to 200 young athletes participated in the Hershey’s Track & Field Games STATE meet held on June 20th at Ilion High school. Athletes ages 9 to 14 competed in running, jumping and throwing events to qualify for the Hershey’s Track & Field Games North American Final Meet to be held August 1 in Hershey, Pa.

“We had a terrific turnout considering the weather forecast,” said Dave Williams, NYS West Coordinator for the Hershey Track & Field Games. “I’m proud of all of the participants and thank the 50 volunteers who helped run this event and our sponsors.”

The Hershey’s Track & Field Games is the longest-running youth fitness program of its kind in North America and is designed to encourage physical fitness among youth and emphasize sportsmanship. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the Games. Competing in this year’s state meet were entries from Ilion (including the entire Mohawk Valley), Plattsburgh, DeWitt, Cortland, Utica, Niskayuna, Jamestown, Canandaigua, Rochester, Oriskany and Little Falls.

The highlight of this year’s competition was Canandaigua’s Noah Williams, he was a triple winner in the 9-10 age group setting new State Records in both the 50 Meter Dash (7.50) and 100 Meter Dash (14.27), he also won the Standing Long Jump with a leap of 6’ 9”.

Locally, double winners included Sauquoit’s Elisa Marchione of (13-14: 100M 14.13 & 800M 2:33.11) and Michaela Murphy (11-12: 200M 29.61 & softball throw 116’10”) as well as Brennan Thompson of Herkimer (11-12: 100M 14.93 & 4x100M Relay 62.07).

Other local winners included; the Ilion 9-10 boys relay (65.4, new Ilion Record) team consisting of Joshua Panko, Daniel Hale, Cameron Giruzzi and Adam Klosner (new Ilion record in the standing long jump finishing 2nd with a jump of 6’2.75”). Jining Thompson in the Relay were Robert Harrington, Robert Davenport and Zachary Steele; Ilion’s Ben Stone (11-12: 400M 73.52) and the 13-14 girls relay team consisting of Teigha Ward, Amanda Whittaker, Rachel Phillips and Nicole Doolen (60.2); from Sauquoit: Maeline Hollenbeck (13-14: 200M 30.03) and Gianna Latella (13-14: 1600M 6:17.45); Oriskany: Shane Murphy (9-10: 200M 35.28), Ryan Enos (9-10: softball throw 120’7”); Rome Jordan General (13-14: standing long jump 7’3.5”); Cooperstown Robert Haggerty (9-10 400M 75.59, new Ilion Record) and from Utica, Jordan Watts (13-14: Softball Throw 189’7”).

Not every winner at the NYS West Final will automatically advance to the North American Finals due to the geographical distribution rule, but at least five winners will compete in the North American Finals. Eight regions compete in the North American Finals. NYS West Finalists will compete in Region 7, which also includes; NYS East, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Quebec, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The North American Final will be held August 1st. The competition will take place at Henry Hershey Field, Hershey, PA.

Winners that do qualify for the North American Finals will be notified on Friday, July 17th. Qualifiers MUST travel with our team to Hershey, PA July 30th. Teams will all be staying at Elizabethtown College and will be supervised at all times. Parents may attend the Opening Ceremonies, Hershey Park, the North American Finals at the Milton Hershey School Track and the Closing Ceremonies. Winners that are not called by Friday July 17th, you were not selected, only North American qualifiers will be called. Qualifiers will also be posted at www.ilionheshey.com