{"id":43853,"date":"2019-01-22T14:29:37","date_gmt":"2019-01-22T19:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/?p=43853"},"modified":"2019-01-22T16:09:07","modified_gmt":"2019-01-22T21:09:07","slug":"east-coast-top-track-stars-head-to-finals-of-45th-anniversary-colgate-womens-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/east-coast-top-track-stars-head-to-finals-of-45th-anniversary-colgate-womens-games\/","title":{"rendered":"East Coast Top Track Stars Head to Finals of 45th Anniversary Colgate Women’s Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — From an initial field of thousands of girls and young women from all over the East Coast, some 226 top point-scorers in divisions from elementary school-through-college-and-beyond, have earned their way to the finals of the 45th Anniversary Colgate Women\u2019s Games<\/a> (Jan. 20, 2019 \u2013 Pratt Institute). Persevering through four preliminary meets and a semi-final, athletes in every age division have emerged as some of the country\u2019s finest athletic talent, with many scoring their personal best of this indoor season at the nation\u2019s largest track and field series for women.<\/p>\n

\"45th
\nSaturday\u2019s semi-finals at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn saw fierce competition as top contenders in every division left it all on the track in their race to the finals.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the Elementary A Division<\/a>: Khloe Khan of Brooklyn\u2019s PS 107<\/a> heads to the finals undefeated, finishing first in the 55 meters in 8.88. In the 200 meters, Maya Wyche of Philips Academy Charter School<\/a> in Newark, NJ crossed the tape in 32.50 in a photo finish with Jocelyn Marie Germain of Roslyn Elementary, Roslyn, PA, who finished second in 32.73. Jocelyn still leads Maya by just one point (50-49) headed to the Armory finals. In the 400 meters, Karly Datilus of KIPP Thrive Academy<\/a> in Newark, NJ took first place with a personal record performance of 1:15.86, an upset win over Philadelphia\u2019s Lauren Broadus of Charles W. Henry School,<\/a> who finished third in 1:17.71, after Savannah Bonhomme of The Bridges Academy in West Islip, NY, who placed second in 1:16.35. In the 800 meters, Aisha Wajid of Grand Concourse Academy<\/a> in the Bronx remains in first place after her win 2:43.92. In the high jump, Amora Johnson of Community School 21<\/a> in Brooklyn cleared the bar at 3\u20196\u201d and now leads Faizah Salami of Community Partner Charter School in Queens by four points.<\/p>\n

In the Elementary B Division:<\/a> In the 55 meters, sprint sensation and last year\u2019s Colgate Women\u2019s Games Finals\u2019 champion Amirah Nesmith of St. Helena Incarnation<\/a> of Philadelphia, had a perfect undefeated season after placing first in 7.92. In the 55-meter hurdles, Kiara Davis of Wilbur Elementary<\/a> in Bear, DE also enjoyed an undefeated season, placing first in 9.90. Davis also set a division High Jump record this season when she cleared 4\u20199.25\u201d at the third preliminary meet. In the 200 meters, Jayleciah Wilson of PS 121<\/a> in the Bronx won in 28.70. In the 400 meters, Julia Grant of Stroudsburg MS<\/a> in PA, placed first with her fastest performance of the series; 1:02.26. In the 800 meters, last year\u2019s undefeated finals\u2019 champion Da\u2019mira Allen of Chichester MS<\/a> in Boothwyn, PA, returns to the finals in first place, after her win in 2:25.52. In the High Jump, Ebony Turner of Timothy Christian School in Piscataway, NJ cleared 4\u20194\u201d for the win.<\/p>\n

\"45th
\n45th Anniversary Colgate Women\u2019s Games\u2019 \u201cCoach of the Year\u201d Award Winners (See photo caption, below.)<\/em><\/p>\n

In the Mid School Division:<\/a> Mahaya Jones of Belmont Charter in Philadelphia placed first in 7:58 in the 55 meters. In the 55-meter hurdles, Taleea Buxton of Young Scholars CS<\/a> in Philadelphia placed first in 8.38. Tai Sheppard of Brooklyn\u2019s Community Partnership Charter<\/a> School placed second in 8.54. The pair has been trading wins all series, separated by only 5 points with Buxton ahead leading into the finals. In the 200 meters, three time Colgate Women\u2019s Games record-holder and Junior Olympic champion Avery Lewis of West Town School<\/a> in West Chester, PA, placed first in 25.50, capping off another perfect season, undefeated in both sprint events through the series. In the 400 meters, Eyota Bey of Cedarbrook Middle School<\/a> in Philadelphia placed first in 59.47. In the 800 meters, Maameyaa Myinah of Woodbridge, NJ won in 2:24.87. In another photo finish, rare for a 1500-meter race, Juliette Salazar of Peekskill Middle School<\/a> placed first in 4:45.69, with Rainn Sheppard of Community Partnership Charter School<\/a> in Brooklyn crossing second in 4:58.76. Sheppard has improved every meet through the series, finishing with her best performance on Saturday. Rowan Houston of Rye Country Day School<\/a>, Rye, NY finished undefeated in the High Jump, clearing 5\u20190\u201d for the win, In the Shot Put, Jada McCown of Hooker MS<\/a> in New Haven, CT tossed 9.32M, her season\u2019s best for the win.<\/p>\n

In the High School Division:<\/a> In the 55 meters, Michel Parker of Promise Academy in Manhattan crossed the tape in 7.39; an upset victory over first place Rori Lowe of Christopher Columbus Campus Pelham Prep<\/a> in the Bronx, who came in second in 7.45. With the win, Parker moves into a 3rd place tie headed to the finals. In the 55 meter hurdles, Anjoli Mathews of Brookline High School<\/a> in MA, took first place in 8.38, her best race of the season, ahead of Peyton Rollins of Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, MS who placed second, and Phoebe Myers of Young Women\u2019s Leadership School in Queens, NY who placed third in 8.50. Headed to the finals as one of the most competitive events, it\u2019s Myers, Mathew and Rollins from first through third place. In the 200 meters, Brianna White of Bishop Loughlin<\/a> in Brooklyn, placed first in 25.65; and Maya Cheatham of Young Women\u2019s Leadership School<\/a> in Queens surprised with a second place finish in 26.62, by finishing ahead of second place Brianna Brown of Collegiate Institute of Math and Science<\/a> in the Bronx, who finished third in 26.72. <\/p>\n

In the 400 meters, Madison Brown of P-Tech Early College High School<\/a> in Brooklyn ran her best race this series to win in 59.59, an upset victory over first place Kaitlyn Cepeda of Park East High School<\/a> in Manhattan, who finished second in 59.71. Brown remains in third place headed to the finals, two points behind second place Jadah Fitzgerald of Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. In the 800 meters, Adia Palmer of Bishop Loughlin High School<\/a> in Brooklyn finished undefeated with a win in 2:19.75. In the 1500 meters, Isabel Stronski of Rye Country Day School<\/a> placed first in 5:02.11. In the High Jump, My\u2019Khiyah Williams of Benjamin Banneker Academy<\/a> in Brooklyn who holds the Mid School High Jump record, cleared 5\u20194\u201d for the win. Mariam Cisse of Promise Academy II<\/a> in Manhattan tossed 11.24M for the win in the Shot Put.<\/p>\n

College \/ Open and 30\u2019s Plus division results are available at https:\/\/www.colgategames.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint thanked all of this year\u2019s participants, coaches and parents, and reflected upon how the goals of the long-running, much celebrated series have remained true for 45 years. \u201cThe Colgate Women\u2019s Games provides a healthy means for young people to challenge themselves in an atmosphere of friendly competition; empowering them with self-esteem that will last a lifetime,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo all coaches, parents and friends, thank you for your commitment to get to Pratt through all types of weather, some from great distances throughout the series. Each of you makes a tremendous contribution toward a more positive future for those you encourage and support. We hope you have enjoyed every minute of your experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Games\u2019 goal is also about the importance of continued education. All finalists in grade divisions must submit their attendance records, and an essay to the meet director to be eligible to compete. The essay topic appears at https:\/\/www.colgategames.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Colgate Women\u2019s Games boast more than 26 Olympic alumnae, hundreds of Junior Olympians and age-division national champions, and countless changed lives. Each year, high school participants are among the most heavily recruited athletes by colleges and universities across the nation. Coaches, recruiters, athletes and fans can follow scores each week at\u00a0https:\/\/www.colgategames.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The finals of the 45th anniversary Colgate Women\u2019s Games will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Armory, NYC. Tickets to the Armory finals are free by request at: https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/45th-anniversary-colgate-womens-games-finals-at-the-armory-track-nyc-tickets-39450263801<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nIMAGES FOR MEDIA:<\/strong>
\n[1] Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/19-0122s2p-cwg45-coachawards-300dpi.jpg<\/a>
\nCaption: (L to R) John Alston of Club 44 in Brooklyn, Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint, and Darryl Murphy of the Mallery Challengers Track Club in Philadelphia. Alston and Murphy were both honored as \u201cCoach of the Year\u201d for their long-time support of women\u2019s track and field and the Colgate Women\u2019s Games.<\/p>\n

[2] Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/19-0122s2p-jan20semifinals-2019-300dpi.jpg<\/a>
\nCaption: Saturday\u2019s semi-finals at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn saw fierce competition as top contenders in every division left it all on the track in their race to the finals.<\/p>\n

*VIDEO (YouTube):\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/I1iV46-kfxg<\/a><\/p>\n