Tolland Children Running, Jumping To Win

After days of rain, the weather cleared just enough Thursday for Tolland Middle School to play host to the Hershey Track and Field Games.

Parents leaned against the fence and cheered as they watched their children compete against one another to see who would finish first.

Boys and girls between the ages of nine and 14 years old participated in three separate events, choosing from two track events and one field event or vice versa. The events included the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m, relay races, broad jump, and softball throw.

Tolland has held this event for several years now, yet this was the lowest turnout in a while.

“Approximately only 20 kids are here today. I am not sure why, but it may have something to do with the weather or kids are just busy doing something else,” said Kim Grimes of the Tolland Recreation Department.

The Hershey Track and Field Games promote teaching lifelong lessons while having fun, and that was obvious as each child had a smile from ear to ear this past evening.

The first place winners of each event will move on to the next round, a District Paper Meet. Neighboring towns get together to compare finish times of each participant and the child with the best time will advance to the Connecticut State Meet at Willow Brook Park in New Britain on Saturday, June 25.

No participant from Tolland has ever been one of the 480 kids to advance to the North American Meet in Hershey, PA.