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Fifth Grader Breaks High Jump Record at Third Preliminary of the Nation’s Largest Track and Field Series for Women

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Thousands of athletes from all over the East Coast, from first-grade through college and beyond, competed this weekend at the third preliminary of the nation's largest women's amateur track and field series, the Colgate Women's Games (Dec. 28-30, 2018).

Local contenders and nationally ranked talent in every division continued to excel, and in the last event of the holiday weekend on Sunday, Kiara Davis of Wilbur Elementary School in Bear, DE broke the Elementary B High Jump record clearing the bar at 4-feet 9.25-inches. Davis had been tying My'khiyah Williams' record 4-feet 9-inches in both earlier preliminaries, and ended an exciting weekend of competition with the record breaking performance. Williams, now a senior at Benjamin Banneker Academy Brooklyn, NY still holds the Mid School record at 5-feet 6 inches, and is presently in first place in the High School division. Davis also won her division's 55 meter-hurdles in 10.24.

From Boston to Brooklyn, High School Junior Olympic Champions Peyton Rollins and Anjoli Mathew Travel Eight Hours for an 8 Second Chase

In the High School division on Friday, two-time Junior Olympic champion and last year's Mid school champion, Peyton Rollins of Buckingham Brown & Nichols School in Cambridge, MA, won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.53; Rollins who travels more than 210 miles from the Boston area to Brooklyn each meet is a freshman competing against some of the nation's best High School talent, including Anjoli Mathew another Junior Olympic champion from Brookline High School also in Massachusetts, who placed second in 8.61.

Michel Parker of Promise Academy in Manhattan improved from a fifth place finish last week surprising a fiercely competitive field with a 55 meters win in 7.39. Brianna White of Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn won the 200 meters in 25.63; Kaitlyn Cepeda from Park East High School in Manhattan, remains undefeated in the 400 meters after her win in 59.29; Adia Palmer of Bishop Loughlin also remains undefeated after winning the 800 meters in 2:20.67; Isabel Stronski of Rye Country Day School in Rye, NY, won the 1500 in 5:00.09. Two-time Colgate Games' High Jump record holder My'khiyah Williams cleared 5-feet 4-inches for the win; and Mariam Chase also of Promise Academy retook the lead in the shot put with a new personal best toss of 11.49.

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said "We're again so pleased at the number of families who chose to spend New Year's weekend with us cheering on their girls. With so many returning stars and newly crowned AAU Junior Olympians competing, this season's competition is turning out to be as fun, fierce and better than ever."

National Champions and Junior Olympians Lead Mid School Events

Saturday in the Mid School division, national sprint sensation and four-time Colgate Women's Games' record holder Avery Lewis of Westtown School, West Chester, PA scored her third consecutive double win. Lewis won the 55 meters in 7.32, and the 200M in 25.8. Tai Sheppard of Community Partnership Charter School in Brooklyn, retook first place in the 55- meter hurdles with a win in 8.48; Sheppard has been trading wins with Taleea Buxton of Philadelphia as the pair continue to set new personal records. Junior Olympic champion Tori Daniels of Valley Stream North in Long Island, NY won the 400 meters in her personal best 59.86. Daniels won four USATF Junior Olympic Championship events in 2018. Alissa Graham of Park Slope Middle School, Brooklyn scored a double win in the distance races, placing first in the 800 meters in 2:22.77, and the 1500 meters in 4:58.08. Rowan Houston of Rye Country Day School won the high jump at 5-feet 4-inches, a personal best; and Jessica Manzueta of Sacred Heart Grade School in Yonkers, NY won the shot put, tossing 8.78 meters.

Brooklyn 70 Year-Old Competes in her 42nd Colgate Women's Games!

Also on Saturday, in the 30'w plus division, Jennifer Pinto, 70 of Brooklyn, NY appeared in her 42nd Colgate Women's Games Series. Pinto, who was ranked second in the world in the Women's Masters in her 40's, wore a Colgate Women's Games 15th Anniversary shirt to Pratt to compete in the 200 meters. USATF Masters Champion Lisa Edwards of the Bronx, who has competed in the Colgate Women's Games for 34 years, won that race in 27.52, her fastest this series.

Sunday in the Elementary B division, last year's 55 meters champion Amirah Nesmith of St. Helena Incarnation School in Philadelphia, won the 55 meters in 8:07 and the 200 meters in 28.45; Additional outstanding performances and results for all divisions are available at colgategames.com/results.

Participation in the Colgate Women's Games is completely free. Girls and young women compete within their own grade divisions for ribbons, medals and points. Events include 55 meters, 55-meter hurdles, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, high jump and shot put.

Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute determine who will compete at the finals at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory, New York Saturday, February 2, 2019, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.

Hopeful young track stars, parents, coaches and recruiters can find information about the program and follow results at http://www.colgategames.com/results.

*VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/I1iV46-kfxg

Related link:

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Talent Runs Deep as East Coast Track Stars Head to Semi Finals After Weekend of Top Competition

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The final preliminary meet of the nation's largest amateur female track series, the Colgate Women's Games, featured athletes from every division achieving personal best scores this weekend, as thousands of participants competed for spots in the semi-finals to be held at Pratt on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said, "Thank you to all parents and coaches for your dedication and commitment through these four preliminary meets. It is our privilege to share in the role of helping your children discover and develop their abilities. Every competitor has been a success just by participating. The talent ran very deep this year, as we saw leading champions challenged by freshman new to their divisions, and some of the most gifted athletes at every age level compete at or near record pace, including some setting the fastest times and best scores in the nation."

On Friday in the High School division, Iantha Wright of Queens won the 55 meters in 7.11; Sophia Myers won the 55 meter-hurdles in 8.28; and Philadelphia's Ariana Ruffin matched her personal best 200 meters in 25.77. New Jersey's Athing Mu made it a perfect season with another double win, placing first in the 400 meters in 59.03 and the 800 meters in 2:21.06. Kaylah Quarshie of Port Jervis, NY who has been in second place behind Shayla Sanders of Queens in the 1500 meters each week, achieved an impressive personal best 4:45.36 for the upset win. High Jump Champion and record holder My'Khiyah Williams of Brooklyn repeated her series' best jump of 5'6" to finish in first place; and in her season's best toss of 10.88m, Amy Azubuike of Brooklyn's St. Ann's School won the shot put.

On Saturday in the Mid School division, New Jersey's Lauren Princz remained undefeated in the 55 meters after a very fast personal best, 7.17; Peyton Rollins all the way from Medford, MA also ran her personal best 55 meter-hurdles, 8.43 to upset leader Tia Taylor of New Jersey who finished second in 8.46. Rollins now has at least 33 first place wins in major meets including USATF Junior Olympic Championships and AAU Regional and Nationals since her 8th birthday! Brianna Brown of the Bronx won the 200 meters in 25.99 and sat out the 400 meters where she was undefeated, leaving a position filled by Kamani Johns of Chester, PA who ran her own personal best, 59.81 for the win. In the 800 Meters, Alina LaForest also of Chester, PA enjoyed her best Colgate Games' performance of 2.19.17 for her first win of the series. LaForest is another national age division champion with 14 first place wins since her 8th birthday in 2013, including 400, 800, 1500, and 1600 meter regional and national competitions. With her season's best 1500 meters performance, 4:47.30, Lauren Heskin of Floral Park, NY remains undefeated now through two Colgate Women's Games' seasons.

On Sunday in the Elementary A division, Philadelphia's Amirah Nesmith continues to surpass her own records. This meet's near-record setting win in the 55 meters, 7.95 and first place win in the 200 meters, 30.08 are both new personal bests. Da'mira Allen of Chester, PA ran her best Colgate Games' 400 meters in 68.95, and her personal best race ever in the 800 meters in 2:34.74 for a four meet perfect season of double wins. In the Elementary B division, Philadelphia's Avery Lewis, who now holds three Colgate Women's Games records, almost made it four. Lewis finished a perfect season of double wins with a first place 55 meters in 7.65, and 200 meters race in a near record personal best 26.64. Philadelphia's Kenai Bey-English finished undefeated in her season's best 400 meters in 63.95, and Alissa Graham won the 800 meters in 2:31.56. Graham of PS44 in Brooklyn has won more than 25 regional and national championships including USATF National Youth and Junior Olympic Championships in distances from 400 meters to the mile!

From thousands of participants, some 430 top point scorers will compete in a semi-finals on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Pratt to determine who will compete at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory, NYC on Saturday, February 18, 2017, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each age/grade division.

The Colgate Women's Games have produced 26 Olympians, hundreds of age/grade division champions, and countless changed lives.

Coaches, recruiters, athletes and fans can follow scores each week at http://www.colgategames.com/.

Tickets to the Armory finals are free by request at: http://www.colgategames.com/ticket-information.

PHOTOS for Media: Photos of each highlighted competitor are available online at colgategames.com/gallery.
Gallery: Top row, left to right: 1. Lauren Princz; 2. Peyton Rollins, Tia Taylor; 3. Alissa Graham.

* Season best statements are based on CWG Results.
** Personal best are based on information from Athletic.net or other results sites online.

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Wintery Weather Doesn’t Chill the Pace at Third Preliminary Meet of the 43rd Annual Colgate Women’s Games

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Pratt Institute -- Thousands of young athletes braved the cold outside while the competition heated up inside at the third preliminary meet of nation's largest amateur track series for women, the 43rd annual Colgate Women's Games. From Boston to Georgia, girls of all abilities from elementary school through college and beyond continued to improve, with many leaders now achieving nationally ranked scores.

On Friday in the High School division, Brooklyn High Jump champion My'khiyah Williams cleared 5'6" for the win. Williams holds both the Mid School record of 5'6 1/2" set in 2015, and the Elementary B record 4'9" set in 2012.

In the 55 meters, Iantha Wright of St. John's Prep in Queens ran her personal best race to take first in 7.10 just in front of Mariam Magassouba of Harry Truman in the Bronx who also ran her personal best clocking 7.12. Sophia Myers of Queens High School of Teaching continues undefeated in the 55 meter hurdles, improving a third straight week with her win in 8.22.

Philadelphia's Arianna Ruffin has shown remarkable improvement with a win in her personal best time of 25.87. Ruffin finished ninth in the 200 meters in the opening meet, then rose last week to a second place finish before this week's victory. Coach Ken Abney, who has developed dozens of young athletes into some of the nation's best young talent, has helped Ruffin grow from a naturally gifted athlete into a leading competitor.

In distance races, New Jersey's Athing Mu scored her third consecutive double win with a 59.03 performance in the 400M and 2:20.44 in the 800M; and Shayla Sanders of Young Women's Leadership school in Queens remains undefeated in the 1500 meters (4:48.71).

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said, "While we're proud that the Colgate Women's Games showcase leading athletes, we're even more pleased to see so many girls of all abilities discovering and improving their talents."

On Saturday in the Mid School Division, Lauren Princz of Fernwood MS in Egg Harbor Township continues to lead the 55 meters after a 7.26 finish, a repeat of her indoor track personal record. Tia Taylor remained undefeated in the 55 meter hurdles with her win in 8.41. The 8th grader from Egg Harbor Community School, N.J. is ranked the number one 13-year-old in the nation in the long jump and won two gold medals at the Junior Olympic Games in Houston this summer. Brianna Brown of Bronx Latin School, climbed back into first place with two of her best races this season, winning the 200 meters in 25.63 and 400 meters in 59.09. Marcia Ojo of Franklin Park, N.J. improved by more than 9 seconds over last week to win the 800 meters in 2:20.53 her new personal indoor record; and Lauren Heskin of Floral Park Memorial, Queens won the 1500 meters in 4:47.54.

On Sunday in the Elementary A division Philadelphia's Amirah Nesmith won the Elementary A 55 meters in 8.34, and in her best race of the season which also sets another personal best, won the 200 meters in 30.74. Da'mira Allen of Chester, Pa. continues undefeated after winning the 400 meters in 70.1 and the 800 meters in 2:36.57. In the Elementary B division, Avery Lewis won both the 55 meters (7.59) and 200 meters (27.34). Lewis, who holds Colgate Women's Games' records in both Elementary A and B divisions, continues to win in times at Pratt faster than most of her first place East Coast USATF Indoor championship competitions.

The Colgate Women's Games remain completely free as a means for all girls to develop their sense of personal achievement and self esteem in an atmosphere of friendly competition. The Colgate Games' promote the importance of continued education and provide a training ground for those who might not otherwise participate in organized sports.

Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute determine who will compete at the finals at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory, New York Saturday, February 18, 2017, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.

Hopeful young track stars, parents and coaches can follow scores and find information at http://www.colgategames.com/.

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0109s2p-MWilliams-300dpi.jpg

*Photo Caption: Brooklyn High Jump champion My'khiyah Williams cleared 5'6" for the win in the High School division of the 43rd Annual Colgate Women's Games at Pratt Institute on Friday. Williams holds both the Mid School record of 5'6 1/2" set in 2015, and the Elementary B record 4'9" set in 2012. Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute determine who will compete at the finals at The Armory, NYC in February for trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company. Follow scores at colgategames.com.

* Photos available of each competitor highlighted at colgategames.com/gallery

Top row left to right: 1. My'Khiya Williams; 2. Iantha Wright, et al; 3. Sophia Myers et al; 4. Shayla Sanders.
Second row: 5. Lauren Princz et al; 6. Tia Taylor et al; 7. Lauren Heskin; 8.Brianna Brown; 9. Amirah Nesmith.

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East Coast Track Stars Shine Through New Year’s Weekend with Fast Times at 43rd Annual Colgate Women’s Games

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Thousands of young athletes and their families and friends spent New Year's Weekend 2016/17 at the 43rd annual Colgate Women's Games. The nation's largest women's amateur track and field series featured some of the East Coast's best talent continuing to set a fast pace for the indoor track season.

In the High School division Friday, Iantha Wright of St. Johns Prep in Queens won the 55m with a personal best race time of 7:11. The Colgate Women's Games' 2015 High School champion sprinter also won the 200m in 25.74. Sophia Myers of Queens High School won the 55MH in 8.27. Both of these Junior Olympic champions achieved more than a dozen first-place wins in a wide variety of events through the outdoor season as well. Fourteen year-old Junior Olympic champion New Jersey's Athing Mu of Trenton Central High School, fresh off two personal records at the Jersey City Armory this month, scored another double win placing first in the 400m in 58.49 and the 800m in 2:19.7.

In the Mid School division Saturday, Zeyonna Davis of Cherry Hill, NJ also ran her personal best (26.76) this month in a first place win at the Jersey City Armory; and this week in an upset over Mid School champion Brianna Brown of the Bronx, her personal best got better winning the 200m in 26.27. Brianna Brown easily won the 400m, improving her time this week to 59.86. Newcomer Lauren Prince of Fernwood Avenue MS in Egg Harbor Township, NJ continues to impress with another win in the 55m, this week in 7.26. Eighth grader Tia Taylor also of Egg Harbor won her second straight hurdles, this week in 8.55. In distance races, returning Colgate Games Mid School champion Lauren Heskin of Floral Park Queens won both the 800m (2:21.89) and 1500m (4:51.73). Including Colgate Women's Games, USATF Junior Olympic Championships both indoor and outdoor and other championship meets, Heskin has more than 20 first-place wins in her age division throughout 2016!

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said, "The level of competition is extraordinary for early season action, and we're already seeing some of the East Coast's best athletic talent set a high bar for the entire nation at every age level. In addition to top talent, thousands of girls and young women of skill level from Boston to Georgia are celebrating their New Year's weekend having lots of fun here at the Colgate Women's Games in the world's greatest city!"

On New Year's Eve Sunday three of the nation's fastest and youngest track stars, all from Pennsylvania scored double wins. In the Elementary A division, Eight year-old Damira Allen of Chester won the 400m in 69.34 and the 800m in 2:35.64; Amirah Nesmith of Ben Franklin Elementary in Philadelphia ran her personal best indoor 55m in 8.21 and also won the 200m in 31.64. In the Elementary B division, Avery Lewis who now holds three age division records won the 55m in 7.50 and in a full second faster than Colgate Games week 1, she ran the 200m in 27.26. Lewis is the first competitor in more than 25 years to hold three Colgate Women's Games' records. Neffertitti Cooper also of Philadelphia held four records in three divisions in 1990-91.

Participation in the Colgate Women's Games is completely free. Girls and young women compete within their own age/grade divisions for ribbons, medals and points. Events include 55 meters, 55-meter hurdles, 200 meters, 400 Meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, high jump and shot put. Top point scorers advance to the Finals where they compete for trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute determine who will compete at the finals at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory, New York Saturday, February 18, 2017, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division. Hopeful young track stars, parents and coaches can find information about the program at http://www.colgategames.com/.

Photos available of each competitor highlighted at http://www.colgategames.com/gallery

Top row Left to right: 1. Wright, Core & Meyers 2. Athing Mu 3. Lauren Heskin 4. Amirah Nesmith.
Second Row: Brianna Brown 2. Avery Lewis; Zeyonna Davis.

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Nation’s ‘Fastest 10 Year-Old’ Sets Another Record at Start of 43rd Annual Colgate Women’s Games Track and Field Series

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Returning champions and promising newcomers from Boston to Virginia in first grade through college and beyond competed this weekend at the opening preliminary meet of the Colgate Women’s Games, the nation’s largest female amateur indoor track and field series.

Among the highlights this weekend; Avery Lewis of Friends’ Central School, who set two Colgate Women’s Games Records last season as an Elementary A competitor, moved up one age/grade division to Elementary B and set another record Sunday at the first preliminary meet of 43rd annual Colgate Women’s Games.

Lewis of Wynnewood, Pa. has been called one of the fastest girls in the nation every year since her 7th birthday. The ten-year old fifth grader turns 11 years-old today, December 21, 2016. Lewis now holds Elementary A Records in the 55M (7.75) and the 200M (28.08); and the Elementary B record in the 55M (7.35) (*See NOTE).

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said, “Avery is the only competitor to hold three Colgate Women’s Games concurrently. It’s really exciting when our younger participants excel because it inspires so many more to kids to choose athletics as a path to success. The Colgate Women’s Games help spotlight their achievements and we’re proud that athletes of all ages across the nation look to our stats and records as a benchmark in all our track and field events.”

In the High School division Friday evening, Dylann Core of Astor Collegiate Academy in the Bronx scored a double win against a tough field of veteran high school sprinters, crossing the tape in the 55M in 7.25 and the 200m in 26.08. Core’s victories are especially notable after placing 4th and 7th earlier this year at the AAU Invitational behind club teammates and returning high school champions in these fields. Another fast rising star, New Jersey’s Athing Mu of Trenton Central also scored a double win, placing first in the 400M (60.9) and the 800M (2:26.2). National champion My’Khiya Williams, who holds Colgate Women’s Games records in the Elementary B and Mid School high jump, cleared the bar at 5’4″ for the win.

In the Mid School division on Saturday, returning champion Brianna Brown of Bronx Latin won both the 200m (25.91) and 400 Meters (60.22); faster times than high school leaders in these events. Brown, who holds two national age division USATF records, was awarded the Colgate Games’ trophy for “Outstanding Competitor at the Finals” last season. Now a 7th grader, she began competing in the Colgate Women’s Games as an Elementary A competitor and has placed first overall in every event each year since.

“This year women’s track and field has been in the spotlight from the 2016 Olympics in Rio where Team USA featured six athletes who participated in the Colgate Women’s Games. The Games have now produced 26 Olympians and hundreds of national age/grade division champions, an inspiration to the thousands of girls and young women of all ages and abilities that compete each year. While top talent often gets the buzz, the Colgate Games are very much about gaining experience and self-esteem and the importance of continuing education for all who participate,” Toussaint said.

Also on Saturday, in the College Open division, Chante Moore of Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania won the 200M in 25.38 and the 400M in 58.3; fast opening meet races for the Pennsylvania High School Indoor and Outdoor track state champion, and the division’s best 200M and 400M times in recent history. Brooklyn’s Kezzian Jones won the shot put with a toss of 11.86M. The sophomore broke multiple Kingsborough College throwing records earlier this year including the shot put with a toss of 12.38M.

Nation’s Fastest 8 year-old:

On Sunday in the Elementary A division, 8-year old track sensation Junior Olympic champion Damira Allen of Chester Charter School in Pennsylvania won the 400M in 1:10.05 and the 800M in 2:34.5. Allen set a record as a 7 year-old in the ESPN Games with a 400M time of 1:09.39; and another this year at the AAU Junior Olympics in August in Texas with an astonishing 1:05.89 performance. The Colgate Women’s Games division record stands at 1:05.91 set by Philadelphia’s Kenai Bey-English in 2015. Allen’s 800M 2.34.5 is her fastest time at any major meet yet, and less than 2 seconds off a 30 year-old Colgate Women’s Games record set in 1986 set by All American Jawauna McMullen.

Participation in the Colgate Women’s Games is completely free. Girls and young women compete within their own age/grade divisions for ribbons, medals and points. Events include 55 meters, 55-meter hurdles, 200 meters, 400 Meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, high jump and shot put. Top point scorers advance to the Finals where they compete for trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Four preliminary meets and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute will determine who will compete at the finals at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory, New York Saturday, February 18, 2017, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.

Hopeful young track stars, parents and coaches can find information about the program at http://www.colgategames.com/.

(*NOTE: Hand-timed. The hand-timed race will join, not erase an electronic timed 7.40 record set in 2003 by Rayona Lynch.)

– PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-1221s2p-avery-lewis-300dpi.jpg

– Photo Caption: Philadelphia’s Avery Lewis Sets Her Third Age Division Record at the Opening Meet of the 43rd annual Colgate Women’s Games, at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y. this weekend.

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