Going for the gold

More than 100 youth from across southeast Kansas traveled to Prentice Gudgen Track on the campus of Pittsburg State University on Saturday for the local Hershey Track and Field meet.

The Hershey's Track & Field Games has been a national event and now a North American event for the past 30 years. The Hershey Youth Program, founded in 1975 by Dr. Donald P. Cohen in Charleston, W.V.

Kim Vogel, recreation coordinator for the city of Pittsburg and this year’s director of the Hershey Track and Field meet in Pittsburg, said that the turnout was about the norm.

“That is pretty normal but we find as they get to that 13-14-year-old age group they drop off a little bit,” Vogel said.

However, those that did participate received a large benefit.

“This is not an all-star program and they don’t have to compete anywhere else to get here,” Vogel said. “They can just bring their running shoes or even just do the softball throw or the long jump and they don’t even have to run.

“They can come out and compete and have fun with their friends,” Vogel said. “They can also compete with kids from other areas. We have an open meet and we have kids from Erie, Riverton, Girard and Galena so they come from everywhere.”

There are also fitness benefits as well.

“It gets the kids out and keeps them moving,” Vogel said. “Some of the kids have been running track at the middle school level but there are others that may have just decided to start running last week and it is great to get them out and let them try it because it is something that can become a lifetime sport for them.”

The ages of the competitors ranged from 9-14 and those that place in the top two in each event move on to the state meet in Overland Park in June. From there, atletes have a shot at qualifying for the regional meet and, possibily, an expence-paid trip to the national meet in Hershey, Penn.

Vogel said there has been numerous occasions where someone from the Pittsburg meet has either qualified or come close to qualifying for the national meet.

“Almost every year, we have had someone that ends up at Hershey or with a really good chance at going,” Vogel said. “A first-place finish at regionals does not guarantee that you are going on but it almost seems like every year we have someone that has an opportunity to go.”

On a day like Saturday, Vogel said things can be hectic.

“It is a little busy but, luckily, I have a lot of volunteers and parents that are willing to help out and so it gets done,” Vogel said. “We just have to make sure that we have enough staff around to keep things moving because the parents and kids are busy and we want to keep it going.”

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-213-2600, Ext. 140.