Kids From 2 Queens Parks Are Track & Field Champs

Photo Alan Roche Bob Beamon, Olympic long-jump gold medallist, gives city kids a lesson in his sport at the CityParks Track & Field 2007 New York City Championships August 15 at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.

The City Parks Foundation (CPF) last week held its sixth annual CityParks Track & Field Citywide Championships, bringing more than 600 New York City kids to the world-class Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island for a day of healthy competition in a wide range of track and field events. Olympic long jump gold medallist Bob Beamon and former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter participated in the day's events, leading clinics and presenting awards to the young athletes.

Teams of kids ages 5 to 16 from all 13 CityParks Track & Field sites across the city competed in various events throughout the day, including javelin, discus, shot put, triple jump, long jump, 400-meter run, 55 meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay, and 100-meter dash. The event also included a giant shuttle relay race and 55-meter dash for Peewees age 5 to 7. Championship medals at Peewee, Beginner and Intermediate levels were awarded to first- and second-place winners.

Winners in the Large Parks Division included the group of entrants from Juniper Valley Park, taking the Beginner division, and the entrants from Astoria Park, who led the Intermediate division. Entrants from Pelham Bay Park in The Bronx won in the Pee Wee division.

In the Neighborhood Parks Division, entrants from Macombs Dam Park, The Bronx won the Pee Wee division, entrants from Kaiser Park, Brooklyn took the Beginner division, and participants from the Betsy Head Playground, Brooklyn won the Intermediate division.

City Parks Foundation's CityParks Track & Field program, funded by ING Run for Something Better, is now in its sixth year of offering free track and field instruction for boys and girls ages 5 to 16, with lessons held twice a week from July through August in parks citywide. Parks from all five boroughs compete, including Astoria Park, Juniper Valley Park, Det. Keith L. Williams Park and Forest Park- Victory Field in Queens, Pelham Bay Park and Macombs Dam Park in The Bronx, Red Hook Recreation Center, Betsy Head Pool, Linden Park and Kaiser Park in Brooklyn, Thomas Jefferson Park and East River Park in Manhattan and Corporal Thompson Park in Staten Island.

"By expanding our free track and field program for youth to 13 parks across all five boroughs this year, we're reaching more kids than ever and encouraging healthy fitness habits that can last a lifetime," David Rivel, City Parks Foundation executive director, said. "Today's tournament, along with our entire season of free track and field instruction for kids, is made possible by the generous support of ING Run for Something Better, helping to make a difference in the health and well-being of New York City's youth every summer."

"ING is proud to help CityParks Track & Field provide New York City children a fun, constructive summer activity and introduce them to the sport of running and the value of physical fitness," ING U.S. Financial Services Chief Marketing Officer Toby Hoden said. "The City Parks Foundation program helps to ensure [that] children learn how much fun it is to be active and make exercise part of their daily routine, while also instilling in them the spirit of competition, determination and inspiration- all characteristics that will serve them well throughout their academic and working lives."

The ING Run for Something Better program is the charitable companion to ING's running event sponsorships and advocates a healthy and active lifestyle in the fight against childhood obesity. The youth running program has successfully enhanced the sport of running in New York, especially among the city's youth. In addition to ING's support of CityParks Track & Field, both ING and City Parks Foundation share a commitment to track and field sports, to youth and to the communities of New York City. ING is the title sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon, which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007.

City Parks Foundation is the only independent, nonprofit organization to offer park programs throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The organization works in more than 700 parks citywide, presenting a broad range of free arts, sports and education programs and helping citizens to support their parks on a local level. Its programs and community-building initiatives reach more than 600,000 people each year, contributing to the revitalization of neighborhoods throughout New York City. For more information on all CP programs, visit www.CityParks Foundation.org.