F.S. runner excels at nat’l track series

Franklin Square resident Lauryn Heskin is currently competing in the Colgate Women’s Games, which are held in New York. Colgate is one of the longest-running amateur track series nationwide, comprised of a series of six meets — four preliminary meets, semi-finals, and a finals meet at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 28.

Founded in 1973, more than 11,000 registrants compete in the Games annually.

Heskin, who entered the Colgate Games independently, placed first in the 400-meter run during the first three meets of the Colgate Games, held at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She also placed in the fourth meet, which was held last weekend.

Heskin recently became a member of the Team Sports Center Panthers track club, which is based in St. James and includes more than 50 runners. Currently, nearly 30 students are participating as part of the club’s indoor season. Heskin’s father, Gene, coaches at the TSC Panthers’ Nassau branch.

Heskin will compete in the Colgate Games semi-finals on Jan. 21 at 9 a.m. “At this point, Lauryn should qualify to run at the finals,” Gene said.

If she advances to the finals, Heskin will have the opportunity to compete for trophies and educational grants provided by Colgate-Palmolive.
In addition to her busy running schedule, Heskin is currently in the running to be named USA Track and Field Long Island’s Athlete of the Year — a designation that will be announced in mid-February.

Several local girls from the Elmont Panthers Track Club, one of the largest and most active running clubs on Long Island, are also competing at the Colgate Women’s Games. Check next week’s Herald, or www.liherald.com, for that story.

For more information on the Colgate Games, visit www.colgategames.com.