Spencer hosts local Hershey's event

For the first time, Spencer played host to a qualifying event for the 32nd annual Hershey's Track and Field Games on Saturday, May 9, 2009, where 85 runners competed at Dale Norton Field.

Eighty-five area athletes ages 9-14 and a group of 40 volunteers helped mark the first ever local qualifying event for one of the most prestigious youth athletic events in North America Saturday, May 9, as Dale Norton Field played host to the Hershey's Track and Field Games.

Started in the 1970s, the Hershey's games are hosted by a number of different qualifying sites in each state. Spencer hosted for the first time in this, the 32nd annual running of the event.

Local qualifiers will advance to district and state competitions, which will take place throughout the months of June and July. The North American Final -- equivalent to a national event -- will be run in Hershey, Pa., from July 30-Aug. 2.

Spencer hosted six different divisions in three age groups Saturday.

A pair of Boys 13-14 year-old competitors take off at the start of the 1,600-meter run at a local qualifying event for the 32nd annual Hershey's Track and Field Games. [Click to enlarge]

Cierra Guerrero shined in the Girls 13-14 age division, winning both the 800-meter run and the 1,600. Guerrero's time of 2:41.52 in the 800 is on par with some varsity times.

Also in the 13-14 division, Ryan Bauermeister and Brady Plueger won two boys events. Bauermeister won the 1,600 and the 800; Plueger won the 200 and the softball throw.

Andrew Christy, Reagan Wilson and James McDermott all won a pair of events in the boys 11-12 age group.

Jalen Rost turned in one of the most productive days in any age group, winning three events in the girls 11-12 division. Rost won the standing long jump, the softball throw and the 100-meter dash.

Also in the 11-12 girls division, Myah Guerrero added a pair of wins in the 400 and 800.

Morgan Roberts equalled Rost's performance in the girls 9-10 division, winning the standing long jump, the 50-meter dash and the 100-meter dash. Jenna Dirkx won two events in the same division, while Brady Kluender won two events in the boys 9-10 division.

Kade Carpenter, also a 9-10 boys competitor, produced a winning throw of 114-9 in the softball toss. The throw won his age group by 20 feet and was still 10 feet better than the age group above him.

Following the event, meet organizers said the success of the meet will likely mean Spencer will continue to host the youth track and field event, potentially on an annual basis.

Quick facts on the largest youth sports program in North America

* Created over 30 years ago with the idea of promoting physical fitness among upper-elementary and middle school kids.

* Boys and girls ages 9-14 are eligible to compete.

* Founded in 1975 and grew from a local playground event in one community

* Hershey's qualifying meets take place in every state in the United State and every province in North America.

* Local, district and state meets take place from April through July.

* More than 400,000 kids participate in the games every year.

* Approximately 540 athletes will compete in the North American Final in Hershey, Pa., from July 30-Aug. 2.

* Athletes are eligible to compete in nine events (50-meter dash, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 1,600-meter run, 4x100-meter relay, softball throw, standing long jump).

32nd annual Hershey's Track and Field Games

(local qualifying event held at Dale Norton Field, Spencer)

Girls 9-10

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Morgan Roberts, Spencer, 4-10, 2. Lauren Boyd, Spencer, 4-3, 3. Reannen Taylor, Spencer, 4-1.

Softball Throw -- 1. Jennifer Culver, Spencer, 62-5, 2. Leaha McGruder, Spencer, 60-4.5, 3. Madison DeWitt, Spencer, 58-2.

50 M Dash -- 1. Morgan Roberts, Spencer, 9.22, 2. Leaha McGruder, Spencer, 9.44, 3. Riley Pohar, Spencer, 9.80.

100 M Dash -- 1. Morgan Roberts, Spencer, 18.13, 2. Riley Pohar, Spencer, 19.09, 3. Jamie Tighe, Spencer, 19.22.

200 M Dash -- 1. Jamie Tighe, Spencer, 41.61, 2. Kate Rasch, Spencer, 43.81.

400 M Dash -- 1. Jenna Dirkx, Spencer, 1:23.39, 2. Tori Cooper, Royal, 1:33.48, 3. Hallee Mingus, Spencer, 1:53.19.

4x100 M Relay -- 1. Jenna Dirkx, Maddison DeWitt, Tori Cooper, Hailey Iverson (Spencer/Royal) 1:18.68.

Boys 9-10

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Brady Kluender, Spencer, 6-1, 2. Cooper Fox, Spencer, 5-9, 3. Dustin Saia, Spencer, 5-4.

Softball Throw -- 1. Kade Carpenter, Spencer, 114-9, 2. Michael Slattery, Spencer, 94-1, 3. Nick McDermott, Spencer, 87-2.

50 M Dash -- 1. Cade Hopkins, Spencer, 8.32, 2. Walker Coldren, Spencer, 8.56, 3. Brady Seier, Spencer, 8.76.

100 M Dash -- 1. Brady Kluender, Spencer, 16.28, 2. Walker Coldren, Spencer, 16.31, 3. Brady Seier, Spencer, 16.41.

200 M Dash -- 1. Braden Heikens, Spencer, 40.84, 2. Eric Chinn, Spencer, 43.17.

400 M Dash -- 1. Nick McDermott, Spencer, 1:20.74, 2. Jon Feldman, Spencer, 1:22.93.

Girls 11-12

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Jalen Rost, Spencer, 6-1.75, 2. Zoe Zahrt, Spencer, 5-8, 3. Kelli Kramer, Spencer, 5-6.75.

Softball Throw -- 1. Jalen Rost, Spencer, 87-8, 2. Nicole Lauck, Spencer, 83-8, 3. Myah Guerrero, Spencer, 83-0.

100 M Dash -- 1. Jalen Rost, Spencer, 16.49, 2. Leigh Chinn, Spencer, 16.95, 3. Taylor Blume, Spencer, 17.13.

200 M Dash -- 1. Nicole Lauck, Spencer, 35.06, 2. Kelli Kramer, Spencer, 36.15, 3. Taylor Blume, Spencer, 37.89.

400 M Dash -- 1. Myah Guerrero, Spencer, 1:15.91, 2. Gio Rasch, Spencer, 1:20.28, 3. Kelli Kramer, Spencer, 1:21.39.

800 M Run -- 1. Myah Guerrero, Spencer, 2:59.49, 2. Emma Tighe, Spencer, 3:33.02, 3. Tessa Dewald, Spencer, 4:31.31.

4x100 M Relay -- 1. Kendra Bauermeister, Sara Bauermeister, Nicole Lauck, Gio Rasch (Spencer) 1:06.90.

Boys 11-12

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Jake Kluender, Spencer, 6-11, 2. Mason Bartley, Spencer, 6-3, 3. James McDermott, Spencer, 5-8.

Softball Throw -- 1. Andrew Christy, Spencer, 104-5, 2. Blake Heller, Spencer, 98-7, 3. Curtis Rezabek, Spencer, 90-7.

100 M Dash -- 1. Andrew Christy, Spencer, 15.59, 2. Mason Bartley, Spencer, 15.90, 3. Kyle Lachner, Spencer, 16.38.

200 M Dash -- 1. Reagan Wilson, Spencer, 30.39, 2. Jake Kluender, Spencer, 33.47, 3. Sean Slattery, Spencer, 34.24.

400 M Dash -- 1. Reagan Wilson, Spencer, 1:12.46, 2. Jake Kluender, Spencer, 1:17.26, 3. Zach Kenny, Schaller, 1:30.71.

800 M Run -- 1. James McDermott, Spencer, 3:06.74, 2. Nathan McLaury, Spencer, 3:13.92, 3. Zach Kenny, Schaller, 3:28.96.

4x100 M Relay -- 1. Kyle Lachner, Sean Slattery, James McDermott, Blake Illg (Spencer) 1:06.05.

Girls 13-14

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Kelsey Rolfes, Spencer, 6-6.5, 2. Daly Tighe, Spencer, 6-3, 3. Madison Rost, Spencer, 6-1.

Softball Throw -- 1. Madison Rost, Spencer, 143-4, 2. Kelsey Rolfes, Spencer, 137-10, 3. Taylor Pohar, Spencer, 131-2.5.

100 M Dash -- 1. Madison Rost, Spencer, 13.71, 2. Karis Rhode, Spencer, 14.03, 3. Kim Shabino, Spencer, 14.15.

200 M Dash -- 1. Kim Shabino, Spencer, 29.49, 2. Taylor Glover, Spencer, 30.13, 3. Karis Rhode, Spencer, 30.44.

800 M Run -- 1. Cierra Guerrero, Spencer, 2:41.52, 2. Daly Tighe, Spencer, 2:51.96.

1,600 M Run -- 1. Cierra Guerrero, Spencer, 6:07.67, 2. Daly Tighe, Spencer, 6:50.14.

Boys 13-14

Standing Long Jump -- 1. Jason Kenny, Schaller, 6-10, 2. Trey Hookfin, Spencer, 6-0, 3. Ben Pingel, Spencer, 4-4.

Softball Throw -- 1. Brady Plueger, Spencer, 139-9, 2. Brody Groen, Spencer, 119-10, 3. Ryan Bauermeister, Spencer, 119-5.

100 M Dash -- 1. Trey Hookfin, Spencer, 14.70, 2. Brady Plueger, Spencer, 14.93, 3. John Culver, Spencer, 16.70.

200 M Dash -- 1. Brady Plueger, Spencer, 31.42, 2. Trey Hookfin, Spencer, 32.12, 3. Brody Groen, Spencer, 35.71.

800 M Run -- 1. Ryan Bauermeister, Spencer, 2:37.33, 2. Jason Kenny, Schaller, 2:49.69, 3. Kaleb Dandy, Spencer, 2:56.90.

1,600 M Run -- 1. Ryan Bauermeister, Spencer, 5:42.64, 2. Jason Kenny, Schaller, 5:59.63.