Colgate Games Uptown

More than 10,000 girls and young women up and down the East Coast began the quest for a spot in the Colgate Women's Games. Little more than 200 made it. And the 2013 champions will be determined at The Armory on Saturday, with events starting at 10 am.

The 39th running of the championship is coming uptown to The Armory for the first track and the competition is expected to be fierce.

In the high school division, among the standouts are Cardozo hurdler Sandreeka Bancroft, Spellman sprinter Lauren Lyons, Evers long sprinter Ja'Nai Cameron and high jumper Shayla Broughton and Boys & Girls shot putter Keziann Jones. Bancroft is not just a returning champion, but also a Colgate Games' record holder.

In the mid school division, a pair of Pennsylvanians were season-long standouts. Both Sydni Townsend of St. Cyril School and Gabrielle Wilkinson of Friend’s Central were undefeated in two events. Townsend won each and every 200- and 400-meter dash while Wilkinson swept the 800- and 1,500-meter runs. Each runner will compete in their longer specialty.

There were five undefeated athletes in the elementary division — Avery Lewis of Friends' Central (55m dash), Jada Mora of P.S. 347 in the Bronx (55m hurdles), Sabrina Imes of The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa. (400m dash), Jamilah Jackson of P.S. 315 in Brooklyn (800m run) and Shaniya Williams of the Academic Leadership Charter School in the Bronx (high jump).

In the college / open division, national champion and long-time Games’ competitor Amber Williams of Parsippany, N.J., finished another perfect season in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.

Of course, the mission and goal of the Colgate Games is not just to produce fantastic performances. "We are very encouraged to see so many talented young people truly excelling at something they love to do," said Colgate Games' founder Fred Thompson. "The Games’ aren’t just about producing Olympians and national champions. Thousands of girls are learning to compete and finding that their hard work pays off.

"As millions of kids spend much of their time in cyberspace attached to their phones, tablets and computers, our girls and young women, and the parents and coaches who support them, have made the decision to disconnect and participate in the real world. Their physical activity and mental discipline will continue to make a world of difference throughout their lives."

Trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each age/grade division.