Rodriguez off to Hershey

Since early spring, literally thousands of boys and girls from across North America have participated in the Hershey Youth Track and Field Program. On July 31, five youngsters from Maine, including three from Aroostook County, will travel to Hershey, Pa. to participate in the North American Finals of the program, which is the largest and longest running youth program on the continent.
Alexis Rodriguez of Caribou, Jacob Devine of Presque Isle, and Simone Martin of Fort Kent will be among those making the trip to Hershey to enjoy four days of fun, experience great programs, meet some great track and field athletes and participate with hundreds of other youngsters from across North America.
Rodriguez will be entered in the 13-14 girls’ softball throw, Devine will compete in the 11-12 boys’ 200-meter dash and Michaud will be participate in the 13-14 girls’ standing long jump.
Also representing the state are Kaden Hannon of Glenburn, who will compete in the 9-10 boys’ softball throw, and Morgan Griffeth of Berwick, who will compete in the 13-14 girls 1,600-meter run.
For 37 years, the Hershey Track and Field Program has worked to provide quality recreation and school programs where children have fun and are introduced to physical fitness through basic track and field events such as running, jumping and throwing. While competition is important, the root of the Hershey program is encouraging kids to be the best they can be, according to Caribou Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Kathy Mazzuchelli, who has been involved with the program for 35 years,
The Hershey Food Corporation adopted the program in 1977 and has expanded it to every state as well as every Canadian province and territory and recently to Puerto Rico.
The program begins at local recreation departments or in school physical education classes. Eventually participants move through local, district and eventually state and/or provincial meets.
Mazzuchelli explained that the states and Canadian provinces and territories and Puerto Rico are divided into eight regions. Maine is in Region Six, which is comprised of all six New England states and all the Atlantic Provinces.
Once every state and province has had their state and provincial meets, scores are compared and regional teams formed. To ensure fair representation of participants, Hershey requires that a minimum of five finalists be selected from each state or province to participate in the North American Finals, which take place at the Henry Hershey Field.
Mazzuchelli said that the most important part of the North American Finals is allowing the youngsters to experience the competition and to know that everyone comes from somewhere, communities large and small all across North America, and it is what they aspire to achieve that allows them to succeed.