INDIANAPOLIS - More than 500 children followed in the footsteps of members of Team USA at a special edition of the Hershey’s RunJumpThrow, USA Track & Field’s initiative to teach children the fundamentals of the sport. Wednesday’s event welcomed more than 500 children from six Indianapolis Public Schools to the indoor track at Fall Creek Pavillion on the Indiana State Fairgrounds where pro athletes and staff from USATF guided the children through eight stations covering various track and field disciples. The event also marked the 1,000,000th child to complete the program, culminating in a surprise celebration for a young local athlete.
Mariah Buchanan, a fourth grader at Eliza Blaker School 55 in Indianapolis, ran a 60-meter dash faster than 19 other kids from six area schools. She was greeted at the finish line by World Championship gold medalists Brandon Carnes, Bailey Lear and Jacious Sears as well as 2024 Olympian Jeremiah Davis along with executives from USATF, the nation’s governing body for track and field and representatives from Hershey, a supporter of Run Jump Throw since its inception in 2015. In recognition of being the 1,000,000th participant, Buchanan received a five-pound Hershey’s chocolate bar which she promised to share with her classmates.
“Over the course of the last decade, USATF and Hershey have traveled the country and world to bring track and field, the most popular Olympic sport, to schools and youth programs,” said Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field. “This milestone emphasizes our commitment to educating children about the importance of physical activity as well as inspiring the next generation of athletes.”
RunJumpThrow introduces kids ages 7–12 to the core skills of running, jumping, and throwing through free, non-competitive, hands-on learning stations. The program is designed to make physical activity fun, accessible, and welcoming for all children—regardless of background or ability. The initiative also reflects Hershey’s corporate social responsibility mission to support children’s well-being and strengthen communities.
“Hershey has been a proud partner of USATF as they inspire kids to stay active by running alongside champions and Olympians in the sport,” said Katrina Briddell, Head of Philanthropy and Social Impact at the Hershey Company. “As part of our commitment to supporting children and communities across the country, RunJumpThrow has taken place in schools, afterschool programs, and community centers nationwide. All of us at Hershey salute the many teachers, coaches, and community leaders who partnered with Run Jump Throw over the years as we celebrate this milestone together.”
The Hershey Company’s involvement in youth track and field dates back to the 1970s through the iconic Hershey’s Track & Field Games, one of the largest youth sports initiatives of its time. In 2015, the Games evolved into Run Jump Throw through Hershey’s partnership with USATF, expanding the reach of youth physical activity programming nationwide.
Hershey is a proud sponsor of USATF and Team USA, collaborating closely on community and youth initiatives on the road to LA28. Both organizations continue to encourage kids to stay active through local parks and recreation programs, school activities, afterschool programs, and USATF clubs and associations.
The USATF/Hershey RunJumpThrow program has been widely recognized for its impact, earning national honors including a Shorty Award for Best in Sports.