High spirits at annual Colgate Women's Games SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Girls and young women from all over the East Coast recent ly met Brooklyn's Pratt Institute to compete in the two or four preliminary meets of the 34th Annual Colgate Women's Games, the nation's largest amateur track and field series. After suffering an injury over the summer, Colgate Women's Games veteran Whitney Fountain of the Bronx's Pelham Prep returned to win the first High School 55 Meters race in 6.9 seconds. Zoey Russell of Douglass, NY won in both the High School 200 Meters (25.4) and the High School 400 Meters (58.5). Neptune, NJ Middle School newcomer Ajee Wilson took first in two races in her division: the 1500 Meters (4:56.7) and, in a tie with St. Clare's Olicia Williams, the 800 Meters (2:27.7). In college action, Lehman College student Lauren Louurick cleared 5'2" in the High Jump event. "There's enough energy to light up a city here," said Meet Director Fred Thompson, as excited kindergarten students took their marks in a 200-meter race on Sunday. "It's great to see children excited about sports and physic^) fitness at such a young age," said Thompson. "We hear so much about child hood obesity on the news. I strongly believe that it's programs like the Colgate Women's Games that combat childhood health prdblems best." Adrienne Alexander of Queens, NY broke a series record this past Saturday, throwing 12.11 Meters in the Middle School Shot Put competition at the second preliminary meet oNhe 34th Annual Colgate Women's Games. Alexander, a student at MS 44, broke Aysha Gregory's 1999 middle school division record of 11.56 Meters. Adrienne's sister Ashlei Alexander, a student at Flushing High School, took first place in this week's High School Shot Put competition, throwing 11.96 Meters The Colgate Women's Games attract more than 11,000 par-, ticipants each year. Every weekend in January, girls and young women, from elementary school through college and beyond compete in sprints, hurdles, distance runs, high jump and the shot put. Athletes compete against p?ers in one of six divi sions: Elementary School A, Elementary School B. Middle School, High School, College and 30 plus. This weekend was the second/of four weekends of prelimi naries held at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute's indoor track, that lead up to a semi-finals of all top point scorers. The semi finals determine who will compete at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, Feb. 2 for trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company. Free tickets to the Madison Square Garden finals are avail able to the general public by emailing col gategames@aol.com. Ticket, requests should include the num ber of tickets needed and a complete address where tickets should be mailed. Follow scores of all top competitors at www.colgategames.com . Submitted photo Young middle school runners compete in a preliminary race for the right to compete in the Colgate Women's Games, which will begin Feb. 2. Former Wake player gets NFL honor CHRONICLE STAFF RETORT Matters weren't ideal for for mer Wake standout Jyles Tucker. The former Deac didn't get draft ed on draft day, despite finishing his senior _ year very strong at Wake Forest. But Tucker signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted Tucker free agent in the offseason. * Tucker has made an immedi ate contribution since making his NFL debut on Nov. 25 against Baltimore. His play during the final week of the regular season earned the former Deacon AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. In his rookie season from Wake Forest, this is Tucker's first career Player of the Week Award. Thicker is the third Charger to win Defensive Player of the Week honors this season (Antonio Cromartie and Shawne Merriman.) In a bid to secure the seed in the AFC playoffs, T led the defense with four tackles, a career-high three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown as the Chargers defeated Oakland 30 17. Tucker, a 6-3," 258-pound linebacker scored his first touch down of his career in the third quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone. The New Jersey native fias totaled 3. 5 sacks in six games this season. Tucker and the Chargers will face the Indianapolis Colts this week. Sherman from page B1 certain criteria in track. I don't have to gain so much weight. I don't have to be a certain height. I jus| need to post good times. But I'm going to continue to work at fulfilling my dreams, in foot ball and track." Head track coach James McMillan ? added. "I think South Carolina is a good choice for him. He's getting a chance to run track for a top program, with the option of playing football later. I think Bryce made the right decision. This is also going to give him the opportunity to help that program continue to build. They are kind of down now. But they have a lot of young athletes. Bryce knows a lot of those kids, like Johnny Dutch. And. I feel like he's going to do good things once he gets there. The coach-(Curtis Frye) told me that he feels like he McMillan got a steal with Bryce because so many people were sleeping on him. I fee} the same way." Sherman's rehabilitation Sherman is presently focused on getting on the track for the Yellowjackets this out door season. He's still suffer ing from a fractured fibula he injured during Carver's final football game of the season. Sherman's cast was taken off this past Tuesday. Doctors have told him that full rehabil itation could take up to six months. "But I heal fast," Sherman said^ "Everybody's body heals differently. I'd like to help the team out this season. I really want to race Hunter (Furr) before 1 get out of here. But I'm not going to go out there unless I am 100 percent." McMillah added: "I think there's a good cfcancftr^we could get Bryce back by mid season. I really do. He's really positive, and I'm hearing some good things. So, I can definitely see him coming back early to mid-season. But we're not going to rush him back. We'll se^ how every thing works out .j' i Note: Sherman maintains a 3.6 grade point average while taking AP courses. \l/hciincr\ I Jiscasc Si rikt v \ not her \meric;in Ininiily W hen will it end? A toirnoi V> dison c s >eoomincj ( o.OOO Amerif rv will t >< diagnosed 2?b\2 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg. Maryland 20871 AV At /HI I Ml k S OIS! AM Cflek Hi MARCH * wn Comfortable Truth 9: Nothing brings a family together like not having to sit so close together. Thank you, sectional. F$PECIAL FINANCING AVAILABLE, The Rex Section*! 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