Colgate Women's Games Opening Meet Draws Large Crowds and Sets Fast Pace for 2005 Indoor Track Season.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The nation's largest track series, with a participating field of more than 12,000 girls and young women, opened this weekend (12/30-12/31) drawing large crowds and setting the pace for the 2005 indoor track season.

In the High School division, newcomer Elan Hilaire of Park School in Brooklyn scored a double win in the 55 meters (6.9) 400 meters (58.4). Jessica Clarke of Murray Bergtraum High School in Manhattan took the 200 meters in a fast 25.4.

Meet Director Fred Thompson says that dozens of new schools and track teams were represented this weekend especially in the elementary and mid school divisions.

"Next weekend's competition should look very different because many of the long-time competitors from Philadelphia didn't make the first meet. It will be very exciting to watch how these new young stars do against some of our returning champions." Thompson says.

More than 12,000 participants from all over the East Coast will compete in four preliminaries and a semi-finals at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn to win spots in the finals of the 31st annual Colgate Women's Games at Madison Square Garden on February 5th.

Finalists receive trophies, and Colgate-Palmolive Company awards educational grants-in-aid to all first-through-third place winners.

Athletes of all ages across the nation can follow the scores, times and results of races in their own age-grade division throughout the season at www.colgategames.com. Tickets to the Madison Square Garden finals are free. Visit www.colgategames.com for details.

PRESS NOTE:

Complete results by grade division and school are available at www.colgategames.com or via email request to David Forman at [e-mail]