Hershey Youth Nationals Offers HS Athletes Another Championship Opportunity
Championship rings, Nike backpacks, and Ashley Higginson all part of the new and improved USATF Hershey Youth Championships
Next weekend (March 11-13) New York will play host to two national championships - the New Balance Nationals at the Armory and the USATF Hershey Youth Nationals at the brand new Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island. While the Hershey meet has historically not been known as a high school meet, USATF has taken steps to make is more attractive for the high schoolers. In recent years they have added the opportunity for high school teams to compete as relays affiliated with their high school (or a USATF club). Furthermore USATF is awarding Josten's championship rings to individual winners in the two oldest age divisions as well as to relay winners for USATF clubs.
Every
athlete that enters the meet will receive a Nike USATF backpack. The
top six finishers in each event receive championship quality medals at a
formal awards presentation.
Team
USA member and 2015 Pan Am Games gold medalist Ashley Higginson will be
on hand to meet and take photos with the athletes and sign autographs.
Higginson from nearby Clinton, NJ was multi-time state champion while
competing for Colts Neck High School in New Jersey. She went on to
attend and compete for Princeton University where she won nine Ivy
League titles. As a professional she represents Saucony and is a member
of the New Jersey New York Track Club. In 2013 she represented Team
USA at the IAAF World Championships and last summer won the steeplechase
at the Pan American Games in Canada. She has a career best in the
3000m steeplechase of 9:27.59 (#8 U.S. performer all-time)
Entry fees are $8 (individual events) and $32 (relays). The entry deadline is Sunday at 11:59pm
Visit USATF Hershey Nationals for more information.
