Applications for the Hershey’s Track and Field Youth Program are available at all neighborhood centers and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation administrative office located in the Moikeha Building at the Lihu‘e Civic Center. This year’s Hershey’s Track and
Applications for the Hershey’s Track and Field Youth Program are available at all neighborhood centers and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation administrative office located in the Moikeha Building at the Lihu‘e Civic Center.
This year’s Hershey’s Track and Field Games, co-sponsored by the Hawai‘i Recreation and Park Association, will be held on May 21 starting at noon at Vidinha Stadium.
Youngsters between 9 and 14 years old are invited to participate in the program, which provides beginners an opportunity to experience the sport of track and field while also providing experienced track and field athletes the opportunity to compete and prepare for the Hershey’s national competition in Hershey, Pa.
Last year, six Hawai‘i athletes, including three from Kaua‘i, advanced to the North American finals held at Milton Hershey High School. All six finished in the top six of their respective events.
Kristin Kawamura, Sienna Santiago and Thomas Yam represented the Garden Island after being in the top finishers of the region.
Kawamura, whose sister qualified for the nationals in 2009, finished third in the 11-12 Girls Softball Throw with a toss of 140 feet. Santiago finished sixth in the 13-14 Girls Softball Throw on a toss of 159 feet, 0.25 inches and Yam finished second in the 9-10 Boys Softball Throw with a throw of 156 feet, 7.5 inches.
Athletes who qualify to advance to the national event have all of their expenses covered by The Hershey Company. This covers airfare, lodging, meals, a visit to the HersheyPark Amusement park, the Hershey’s factory and Hershey’s Chocolate World Attraction.
Some of the previous Hershey athletes include Kelsey Cadiente, currently a student at Kaua‘i High School who, more recently, earned state qualifying times in the sprint events of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation track and field competition.
Kelsey’s sister, Kathleen, a graduate of Kaua‘i High School, and brother Kevin, currently an athletic trainer at Kaua‘i High School, also qualified for the prestigious national track and field event.
The mission of the Hershey’s Track and Field Games is to encourage physical fitness, foster teamwork and improve self-esteem among youth.
For more information, or to request an alternate format, or auxiliary aid to participate, call the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center at 241-6858 or send an email to lihuenc@kauai.gov at least seven business days before the event
