A run for the chocolate

Hershey Track Meet takes place May 12

A sweet track meet is coming to Oak Harbor over the objection of Park Commissioner Fred Henninger as to its sponsorship.

North Whidbey Park and Recreation District Director Craig Carlson announced at Thursday’s meeting that Oak Harbor will be having a Hershey Track Meet on May 12.

The meets are nationwide events bringing together many of the top young athletes from around the country.

Hershey’s meets are divided into local, regional and sectional meets, with the winners receiving all-expense paid trips to Hershey, Penn., for the national championship meet in late summer.

Henninger, a retired dentist, said he objected to the idea because “kids will be rewarded with sugar, and I don’t think that’s right.”

Chairperson Sally Dillon, an apparent chocolate lover, kiddingly replied that she would take any of the “rewards” the kids didn’t want.

But don’t expect the Oak Harbor track to be covered in chocolate. Carlson said when he worked for the parks district in Ellensburg they held several Hershey track meets and they were big successes, but not literally sweet.

“At no time did I ever see any of the competitors rewarded with chocolate,” he said.

Henninger remarked he still objected to the sponsorship.

Bringing up another issue, Commissioner Tom Johnson asked who would assume the liability for hosting the meet.

“The Hershey people have always taken care of liability insurance,” Carlson said. “Safety is taken into consideration at every one of them to make sure no one gets hurt. There are no events like the shot put, javelin or discus throws and there is nothing like the high jump or the pole vault. Instead, they have the softball throw and the standing long jump.”

The meet will be held at the Oak Harbor Middle School track.