DOUBLE WINNER

DOUBLE WINNER
Photo by Lem Peterkin

From an initial field of more than 11,000, some 430 top-point scorers will compete in a semi-finals on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Pratt to determine who will face each other at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each age/grade division.

In the High School division on Friday, Junior Olympic champion Lauren Lyons of Cardinal Spellman High School finished the season undefeated with a fourth straight double victory, winning the 55 meters in 7.3 and the 200 meters in 25.8.

Sandreeka Bancroft of Cardozo High School in Queens won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.1. The Colgate Women’s Games’ Mid School hurdles record-holder heads to the semi-finals tied with Staten Island’s Brigitte Pewu, who holds the Staten Island High School Indoor Championship record in the hurdles. Brooklyn’s Kezian Jones of Boys and Girls High School tossed 11.41M to win the Shot Put, and Shayla Broughton of Medgar Evers High School in Brooklyn, who has twice cleared 5’6” this season, finished undefeated after jumping 5’2 to win the High Jump.

In the Mid School division on Saturday, Sydni Townsend of Landsdowne, PA scored a double win crossing the tape in the 200 meters in 25.9 and the 400 meters in 58.9; and Gabrielle Wilkinson of Friend’s Central in Philadelphia, who holds the Colgate Women’s Games Elementary B 800 record, made it a perfect season after winning the 800 meters in 2:19.1 and the 1500 meters in 4:42.4.

In the College/Open Division, Brooklyn’s Shemayra Braithwaite took first place, and remained undefeated in the high jump after clearing 5’2”. A graduate student at Hunter College, Shemayra has a first grade daughter also competing in the Colgate Games’ high jump. Solange Braithwaite is presently tied for 5th place advancing to the semi-finals in the Elementary A division.

Erica Nixon and Treasure Glymph both of the Bronx, have traded wins throughout the series, and tied the 55-meter-hurdles crossing the tape in 8.8.

Amber Williams of Parsippany, NJ scored double wins in the 200 and 400 meters each week, and heads to the semi-finals undefeated. The long-time Colgate Games champion has had several undefeated seasons since joining as an elementary school competitor.

Philadelphia’s Avery Lewis may be the youngest competitor in the Colgate Games, and is likely the nation’s fastest seven-year-old. The first grader from Philadelphia just turned seven years old in December, and won the 55 meters four weeks straight. She heads to the semi-finals after her final preliminary victory in 8.4.

Meet Director Fred Thompson said, “We’re encouraged by so many talented younger girls this year. They are some of the fastest elementary school girls I’ve ever seen, and their excellent form suggests they have caring parents and coaches spending the time to teach them. Many of these girls don’t get to run in school, even at recess, so we’re happy to provide a fun and exciting world-famous venue.”

The Colgate Women’s Games are among the nation’s most competitive meets, but Thompson says the goals of the Games are not only about athletics.

“Thousands of girls each year have a great time learning how to compete, and will draw on these skills throughout their lives. They’ll learn how to work hard and challenge themselves, discovering how fast and how far they can go. It’s not just about those who become national champions or even Olympians, it’s more about the countless young people whose lives have been positively influenced by this experience,” said Thompson.

The Colgate Women’s Games have produced more than 20 Olympians, hundreds of age/grade division national champions, and countless changed lives. Each year, high school participants are among the most heavily recruited athletes by colleges and universities across the nation. Coaches, recruiters, athletes and fans can follow scores each week at Colgategames.com.