Mazzuchelli receives Founder’s Award
HERSHEY, Pa. — Some people can only dream about being on the track or the infield at the long jump pit with Olympic legends Rafer Johnson or Carl Lewis or being cheered on from the sidelines by Olympic medal winner Jackie-Joyner Kersee, but for five young Maine athletes that is just what happened Aug. 2 at the North American Finals of the Hershey Youth Track and Field Program
Alexis Rodriguez of Caribou, Simone Martin of Fort Kent, and Jacob Devine of Presque Isle joined up with Morgan Griffin of Berwick and Kaden Hannen of Glenburn to make up the Maine contingent who earned the right to participant in this annual event.
Kathy Mazzuchelli, northern regional coordinator for Maine, noted that the chance of qualifying for the three-day event is about 1 in 1,000 and yet every year for the last two decades, Aroostook County has sent at least one athlete to the North American Finals.
Despite enduring a very long trip to Hershey, and some rain, all the participants medaled in their respective events.
Rodriguez placed 11th in the 13-14 girls’ softball throw, Devine had the top showing, placing eighth in the 11-12 boys’ 200-meter run, and Martin 12th in the 13-14 girls’ long jump.
Griffin placed ninth in the 13-14 girls’ 1,600-meter run despite an ankle injury suffered at the start when several participants became entangled. The race was restarted and Griffin ran an amazing race. Kaden Hannen from Glenburn finished eighth in a very competitive softball throw for the 9-10 boys’ division.
The Hershey Track and Field Program, founded by Dr. Donald P. Cohen of West Virginia in 1975, was developed to promote physical fitness, participation, friendship and sportsmanship. The program has become the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America.
In addition to the track meet, participants were treated to a formal opening ceremony on July 31, which featured track and field legends Johnson and Lewis, who are the spokesmen and ambassadors for the Hershey Track and Field Program. Olympic decathalete Dan O’Brien served as the master of ceremonies for the evening event.
On Aug. 1, participants were treated with a day at Hersheypark. Following the track meet on Saturday, all participants were treated to a supper at the Milton Hershey School followed by a special closing ceremony, the favorite part of which is the viewing of a video which captures the highlights of the weekend and serves as a keepsake for participants.
This year, the United States Track and Field Association assisted Hershey Foods Corp. in setting up the North American Final and actually provided a live web feed of the event so parents and relatives who could not attend could watch the events live.
Also as part of the closing ceremonies, Tim Baude of Bangor Parks and Recreation Department, who serves as the state chair for the Maine Hershey program, and Mazzuchelli were presented with the Founder’s Award by Bernie Banas, vice president of customer innovation for Hershey Foods Corp. and chair of the Hershey Track and Field Games board of directors.
The Founders Award is presented annually to individuals that have made significant contributions to the Hershey Track and Field Program. Baude has been the state chairperson for 10 years and has been involved with the program for close to 20 years.
Mazzuchelli has been involved with the program as instructor and has been the regional coordinator for 35 years. She and Baude have traveled to physical education conferences throughout North America on behalf of Hershey to introduce physical education instructors to the Hershey track and field program and to demonstrate how to integrate the program into PE curriculums.
Mazzuchelli said that after 37 years, the Hershey Foods Corp. has decided to change their direction and have partnered with USA Track and Field Association and no longer will be offering the traditional Hershey Youth Track and Field Program.
She indicated that the Hershey company has chosen to embark on a new national youth activity initiative as part of a new program called “Run Jump Throw” primarily through school physical education classes beginning in 2015.
Mazzuchelli did indicate that the Northern Maine Community Recreation Association will continue to hold youth running programs that will culminate in a district meet in early summer, similar to the traditional Hershey program. In addition, talks are underway with New Brunswick track groups to determine if some type of international youth track and field program can be implemented, similar to the Hershey model.
