Michele Renzi loves to zip around the track and has already found her niche in the sprint events. The 10-year-old says she also enjoys being part of a track club because she "learns a lot from it" and "you get to run with people that are in your group."

"It doesn't matter what your level is," she says, "You're always part of the track group."

Also a member of the Johnston Recreation Department's track club, Michele's older sister, Rachael, 13, also likes to run, but is partial to the jumping events and enjoys seeing her scores steadily improve.

"You get to just go out there and do your best," she said, adding that "it's fun to meet new people and run."

The Renzi siblings, who are following in oldest sister Danielle's footsteps and are joined on the track team by younger brother Mark, will be among the nearly 300 youngsters from around Rhode Island competing at the Rhode Island Hershey's Track & Field State Championships, to be held July 10 at Rhode Island College.

It is for all the reasons that the girls mentioned above – and more – that Donna and Mark Renzi decided to get their children involved in their town's recreational track program.

"Running, obviously, is something you can do all through life," said Donna, who has been running since she was a child and persuaded her husband to take up the sport a few years ago. "You don't need teammates or a lot of equipment. And you use it throughout all the other sports. It's just a good way to build confidence and endurance. It's a wonderful and positive experience."

Encouraging a love for physical fitness at an early age was the driving force behind the Hershey's Track & Field program. What began as a small all-comers' meet started in West Virginia by Dr. Donald P. Cohen in 1975 has steadily grown over the past three-plus decades. More than 400,000 youngsters aged 9 to 14 now participate each year throughout the United States and Canada, beginning with local meets hosted by various parks and recreation departments.

The top finishers at those meets advance to their respective state meets, where competition is held in a number of running, jumping and throwing events in three age-group categories (9-10, 11-12 and 13-14).

The top performers there will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the 32nd annual Hershey's Track & Field Games North American Finals, to be held July 30 to Aug. 2 in Hershey, Pa.

The winning performances from next week's Rhode Island state meet will be matched up against those from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Canada's Atlantic provinces to determine who will move on to the North American Finals. Rhode Island

"The first time, I did get nervous," Rachael Renzi said of her first experience competing at the state meet. "Then after a while, you see that the people there are really nice, and you just go out there and do your best."

Fun and fitness, indeed, take precedence over competition, says Matt LaFazia, now in his fourth year as Hershey's Rhode Island state coordinator.

"Our main priority really is just for the kids to enjoy running around, especially the younger ages," said LaFazia, who is also the assistant parks and recreation director in Johnston and runs that town's recreation track program, which boasts 140 youngsters. "It's an opportunity for them to get out and get some exercise. We don't focus on competition. The kids do run hard and try hard, and they are running to win, but in the end the winning aspect isn't the No. 1 thing."

Those who get the chance to advance to the North American Finals will find that the national meet is much the same, LaFazia said. Event organizers pack all kinds of fun activities into the athletes' four-day stay, including a field day, a trip to the Hershey Park amusement park and a tour of Hershey's chocolate plant.

"From the minute we get there, every day is planned out," said LaFazia, who accompanies the Rhode Island athletes on the trip.

For those communities that aren't yet involved, it's never too late, he added. The Central Falls Recreation Department and the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club have gotten on board this year, and LaFazia hopes to see others follow.

"It's very easy to run, and every community has the opportunity to do something like that," he said, pointing out that a Westerly parent spearheaded a meet in that community this year with 90 youngsters participating. "There are very minimal equipment costs. Just contact us and we're willing to help you out."

Next week's state meet at RIC will begin at 5 p.m. Youngsters interested in participating who were unable to compete at a local qualifying meet should contact LaFazia by phone at (401) 272-3460 or via e-mail at matt@johnstonrec.com Those interested in starting a Hershey track program in their city or town should also contact LaFazia. More information about Hershey Track & Field can also be found at http://www.hersheystrackandfield.com

cthorn@projo.com