This year marks the 34th year that the Hershey's Track and Field Games provided nine to 14 year-old boys and girls the opportunity to develop the skills required to participate in basic track and field events. The first, local meets were held earlier this spring. Winners advanced to provincial and regional meets. Over 400 of the best young track and field athletes in North America will compete in the North American Final August 6 in Hershey, Pennsylvania at the Henry Hershey Field on the campus of the Milton Hershey School.
One local youngster, 10 year-old Holden Knights, a Grade 5 student at M.C. Knoll School will be one of the 400 finalists at the North American Final.
Knights competed in the 50m sprint, 100m sprint and the standing long jump, capturing first place in all three. He ran the 50m in 8.06 seconds, competed the 100 m sprint in 15.40 seconds and leaped a distance of 1.90m in the standing long jump, reports Knight's mom Sue-Anne.
His performance advanced him to the provincial finals in Saskatoon where he placed fourth in 100m, second in standing long jump and second in the 50m sprint.
He qualified to compete in the standing long jump at the North American Finals with a jump of 1.84m.
In addition to Knights, five other Saskatchewan youngsters have qualified for the trip, says Sue-Anne.
In addition to track and field competition the young athletes will be involved in a host of memorable activities which will keep them busy for the duration of their trip. Some of the events will include an autograph session with Olympic Gold Medalists Rafer Johnson and Carl Lewis, a visit to and tour of the world's largest chocolate factory, the Hershey Plant, an afternoon at the Hershey-Park amusement complex, a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World, and a parade of athletes to open the games.
Knights says other than the competition, he's most interested in the visit to the chocolate factory and enjoying the amusement park.
In addition to the parade of athletes the meet will feature an official games torch lighting ceremony just like the olympics. This will also be the first year to have participants from Puerto Rico.
Knights says he enjoys track and field and plans to continue all through school.
