{"id":55440,"date":"2019-12-16T16:20:04","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T21:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/?p=55440"},"modified":"2019-12-16T20:04:10","modified_gmt":"2019-12-17T01:04:10","slug":"the-nations-largest-track-series-for-girls-produces-world-class-athletes-and-exceptional-young-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/the-nations-largest-track-series-for-girls-produces-world-class-athletes-and-exceptional-young-women\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nation’s Largest Track Series For Girls Produces World-Class Athletes and Exceptional Young Women"},"content":{"rendered":"

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Dec. 14-16, 2019 — This weekend\u2019s opening preliminary meet of the Colgate Women\u2019s Games was the first event since the passing of its founder,\u00a0Fred Thompson.<\/a>\u00a0Thompson\u2019s contribution to the sport extended well beyond mentoring and coaching dozens of Olympians and world-class athletes; his self-proclaimed greatest accomplishment was the creation of what has become both an incubator for young athletic talent,\u00a0and a venue that\u00a0provides girls and young women a means to develop self-esteem and a sense of personal achievement.\u00a0Thompson was inducted into the US Track and Field Hall of Fame<\/a> on December 7, 2019.<\/p>\n

\"Colgate
\nSandra Parick-Farmer<\/a>\u00a0one of countless women who trace their success in school, athletics, or their personal or professional lives back to Brooklyn at the Colgate Women\u2019s Games was also inducted to the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

The Games have produced an astounding 26 Olympians, hundreds of national champions, and just this October, a number of women who competed in the Games throughout grade-school won gold medals at the 2019 IAAF World Track and Field Championships<\/a>\u00a0in Doha, Qatar.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn to Boston, Newcomers and Returning Champions Achieve Personal Records!<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday in the High School division, thousands came from all over the East Coast from as far as Boston to set a fast opening pace. Newcomer\u00a0Maya Dorer<\/a>, a tenth grader from Brooklyn\u2019s St. Joseph High School, scored a double win with a personal best 2:16.72 in the 800 meters and ran 4:47.48 in the 1500 meters; returning Colgate Games\u2019 finalist\u00a0Dayahanna Douglas,<\/a>\u00a0also a sophomore from Brooklyn (Midwood High School), won the 55 meters in a personal best 7.16.<\/p>\n

Peyton Rollins,<\/a>\u00a0a junior Olympic champion, long-time participant and returning finalist, is one of several girls who travel all the way from Boston. Peyton won the 55 meter-hurdles in 8:13.\u00a0Jadah Fitzgerald<\/a>\u00a0of John Adams High school in Queens won the 200 meters in 26.04;\u00a0Alina LaForest\u00a0<\/a>of St. Basil Academy, Jenkintown, PA won the 400 meters in 58.97;\u00a0Selah Dungey\u00a0<\/a>of Newark Academy won the high jump, clearing the bar at 5\u20192\u201d and\u00a0Denae Hill\u00a0<\/a>of West Orange High School, NJ won the shot put with a toss\u00a0of 12.13M.<\/p>\n

\"Colgate
\nMeet Director Cheryl Toussaint said, \u201cThe Colgate Women’s Games have always been much more than a competition for athletic talent. Fred Thompson had a vision to provide a means for girls of any ability to challenge them to discover their own potential.\u00a0The distance so many are willing to travel,\u00a0and the incredible commitment of so many families, friends and coaches who encourage and support their girls and young women, are a testimony to the importance of his legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday in the Mid School division, four-time Colgate Women\u2019s Games\u2019 record-holder\u00a0Avery Lewis\u00a0<\/a>of Friends\u2019 Central in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, won the 55 meters in 7.03, and the 200 meters in 24.95. Ron-niah Wright, a returning finalist all the way from Stone Mountain, Georgia, won the 55 meter-hurdles in 8.35 and Kaela Swift of Brooklyn\u2019s Success Academy won the 400 meters in 1:01:3. Last year\u2019s Elementary B Finals champion\u00a0Da\u2019mira Allen<\/a>\u00a0of Northly Middle School in Aston, PA won the 800 meters in 2:25.49;\u00a0Payton Drumwright<\/a>\u00a0of Carver Engineering and Science in Philadelphia, won the 1500 meters in 5:03.47;\u00a0Alanna Woolfolk<\/a>\u00a0of Clayton Middle School in New Jersey cleared the high jump bar at 5\u20194\u201d for the win, and Shalisha Robertson of Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School in New Haven, Connecticut won the shot put with a 9.44M toss.<\/p>\n

Also Saturday, the College\/Open division included several nationally ranked athletes. Results are available at\u00a0colgategame.com\/results<\/a><\/p>\n

Returning Finalists Open Strong!<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Sunday, the Elementary B division featured returning finalists placing first in every event. Sophia Cope<\/a>\u00a0of Coles School, Scotch Plains, NJ won the 55 meters in 8.13. Alyssa Durant<\/a>\u00a0of Happy Hollow Middle School in Boston, MA won the 55 meter-hurdles in 11.59, and the High Jump bar clearing 4\u20192\u201d a personal record;\u00a0Sydney Chadwick<\/a>\u00a0of St. Mathew School in Edison, NJ won the 400 meters in 1:07.74, also a personal record;\u00a0Rhia Randolph<\/a>\u00a0of Philp\u2019s Academy in Newark, NJ won the 200 meters in 29.05; Paige Sheppard<\/a>\u00a0of St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains, NJ, won the 800 in 2:33.23.<\/p>\n

Also Sunday, the Elementary A division featured newcomers from as far as Massachusetts, and 30\u2019s Plus competitors featured nationally ranked athletes, several of who have competed since elementary school.<\/p>\n

Participation in the Colgate Women\u2019s Games is completely free. Girls and young women compete within their own grade divisions for ribbons, medals and points.<\/p>\n

Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute will determine who will compete at the finals at the\u00a0New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory, New Yor<\/a>k Saturday, February 1, 20 where\u00a0trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company<\/a>\u00a0are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.<\/p>\n

Promising young track stars, parents, coaches and recruiters can find information about the program and follow results at\u00a0https:\/\/www.colgategames.com\/results<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

IMAGES FOR MEDIA<\/strong>
\n[1] https:\/\/www.Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/19-1216s2p-cwg-Elementary-B-comps-300dpi.jpg<\/a>
\nCAPTION: “Elementary B participants at the opening preliminary meet of the 46th annual Colgate Women’s Games at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY on Sunday.<\/p>\n

[2] https:\/\/www.Send2Press.com\/300dpi\/19-1216s2p-cwg-Elementary-A-comps-300dpi.jpg<\/a>
\nCAPTION: Elementary A competitors at the opening preliminary meet of the nation’s largest track and field series for women, the Colgate Women’s Games, on Sunday in Brooklyn, NY.<\/p>\n