By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

These games are sweet.

The annual Hershey’s Track and Field Games for youths ages 9-14 will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at Coal Grove High School. There is no fee.

The meet is sponsored by the Hershey’s Chocolate Company and locally by Western Southern Insurance.

Registration starts at 5 p.m.

Events for all ages are: 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 40o-meter dash, 4×100-meter relay, standing long jump and softball throw.

The 9-10 age group also has a 50-meter dash.

The 800-meter run is also offered to the 11-12 age group. The 13-14 age division has the 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run.

Age is determined by Dec. 31 of the current year.

The Hershey’s Track and Field Games are endorsed by the National Recreation and Park Association, National Association for Sport and Physical Education and Athletics Canada.

Hershey’s has been making chocolate and confections for more than 100 years, but the company has also sponsored the Hershey’s Track and Field Games for more than 30 years.

The games are the largest youth sports program of its kind in the United States and Canada. Events take place in every state and most provinces in North America. The event’s finale is held in Hershey, Pa., and finalists get to make the trip for free and visit Hersheypark, Chocolate World and tour the Hershey’s factory.

For more information, contact Greg Bryant at (740) 479-1713 or John Large at (606) 923-7764.