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HERSHEY, Pa. - Team USA came to Hershey, P.A. on Saturday, competing in six exhibition events at Hershey's North American Final and providing young athletes, their families and fans with a unique opportunity to get up close with Olympic and world champions.
More than 500 athletes age 9-14 from the U.S. and Canada competed in Hershey's North American Final, the crown jewel of Hershey's Track & Field Games. Promoting youth fitness and participation in track & field, and held at the Milton Hershey School, the Hershey program is synergistic with USA Track & Field's own youth and junior programs. More than 400,000 children compete annually in Hershey's Track & Field Games.
"Team USA in Hershey, P.A." brought elite athletes, youth athletes and fans together like never before. "Personal fans" greeted the winner of each Team USA exhibition event and received a Nike bag filled with Team USA gear and a pair of Nike shoes. Athletes participated in autograph sessions throughout the day as well as giving away hundred of prizes directly to youth athletes and fans in the stands. They stood trackside during the youth races, cheering on participants, congratulating the finishers after they crossed the finish line and helping to award medals. Dee Dee Trotter and Bershawn Jackson even ran to the track and helped a fallen runner finish in the boys' 200-meter dash.
"We're having so much fun," said #1 world-ranked 400-meter run Sanya Richards as she cheered on the boys' 13-14-year-old 100 meters. "We're all cheering for kids from our own regions. I haven't been to a youth meet since I ran in one, so this is great, and its amazing for them to see us out here. I saw a girl in the bathroom who just came up and hugged me because she didn't know what to do."
Team USA athletes on hand were Richards, Jackson, Trotter, Monique Henderson, Terrence Trammell, Derrick Brew, LaShawn Merritt, Jason Lunn, Rob Myers, Grant Robison, Jonathon Riley, Darvis Patton and Moushaumi Robinson. They were joined by legends Carl Lewis, Dan O'Brien and Rafer Johnson.
With the focus on outreach and the experience of seeing the America's best run, meet officials turned off the timing apparatus for the Team USA races. Times and order of finish were of little importance, but sportsmanship was the order of the day as Team USA athletes competed with smiles on their faces in the men's mile, men's 100, women's 200, men's and women's 400, and a co-ed 4x100m relay, which saw Carl Lewis and Dan O'Brien run the opening leg for their respective teams.
Highlights of the Hershey's North American Finals will be broadcast Saturday, August 12 on ESPN2. Check local listings.
For more information on Hershey's Track & Field Games, visit Hersheys.com.
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