Pratt Institute, Brooklyn (1/8 – 1/10) …… Thousands of girls and young women from Georgia to Massachusetts competed in Brooklyn this weekend at the third preliminary meet of the nation’s largest track and field series for women.   Shot Put star Egypt Parker of the Bronx broke a long-standing High School division record at the third preliminary meet of the 42^nd annual Colgate Women’s Games Home Pageon Friday night with a 14.66.5M toss, beating the previous best throw of 14.34m set by Cheryl Klein in 1984.   

Also in the High School division, Brooklyn’s Paul Robeson relay champions continue to lead their respective events; Alyssa Sandy won the 55-meter hurdles in her personal best (8.0) of all Colgate Games’ meets, continuing undefeated through all of last season as well; Latoya Stewart placed first in the 200 Meters in 25.37, her best time this season as well; and Amanda Crawford won the 400 meters in 58.22. Iantha Wright of St. John’s Prep in Queens, won her third straight 55 meters, crossing the tape in 7.0.  Brooklyn’s Charnice Anderson, the fourth teammate of the Paul Robeson champion relay team, finished a close second in 7.06.

Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint said performances improved in every division for newcomers and seasoned champions alike.  “It’s always exciting to watch some of the nation’s top athletic talent perform, but especially gratifying when long-time participants set a new record, or achieve their personal best.”

On Saturday in the Mid School Division, Brianna Brown of Bronx Middle School scored her third double win, finishing the 55m in her season’s best time, 7.14; and the 200 meters in 26.27.

Philadelphia’s Avery Lewis, who set two Elementary A records last year as a third grader in the 55 Meters and 200 meters, leads in the Elementary B division this year, scoring a third straight double win in 7.61 in the 55 meters, and 27.43 in the 200 meters. Meet officials continue to call Avery one of the nation’s fastest 10 year olds.

Toussaint added that the Colgate Women’s Games are not just about seasoned competitors or veteran participants. “Each week it’s just as pleasing to see thousands of newcomers being cheered on by family and fans, and gaining confidence in themselves that has the power to positively change the course of their lives,” she said.

As the series youngest participants competed Sunday to a packed house of extended family and friends, Colgate-Palmolive Company’s Bright Smiles Bright Future mobile oral care van was on site offering free oral care screenings to girls through age 12.

Next week’s final preliminary meet, followed by a semi-finals at Pratt will determine who will compete at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory, NYC on Saturday, February 13, 2016, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.

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.