GROSS HOPES FOR 'SWEET' SUCCESS AT HERSHEY'S MEET

Danielle Gross doesn't even consider track and field to be among her most favorite sports, but that might change before too long.

That's because 10-year-old Danielle has proven to be quite adept in that particular sport -- good enough, in fact, to qualify for the Hershey's Track & Field Youth Program North American Final Meet that will be held Aug. 15 in Hershey, Pa.

The meet, sponsored by Hershey Foods, will feature 480 of the best young track and field athletes ages 9 through 14 in North America.

Danielle, the daughter of David and Robyn Gross of Cape Girardeau, qualified for the prestigious meet in the 50-meter dash by excelling during the Hershey's state competition held recently in Jefferson City.

"It's really exciting," said Danielle with a big grin. She said that she enjoys and participates in many sports, but "soccer and basketball are probably my favorites."

Danielle, an A Honor Roll student at Clippard Elementary School, plays on various area youth basketball, soccer and softball teams in addition to being involved in dance and Girl Scouts.

"We're an active family and she's that way too," said a laughing Robyn.

Of Danielle's participation in track and field, Robyn explained, "She's always been fast and she always wins at her school's play days. Last year she saw a thing in the paper about the local Hershey's track meet and she said she wanted to do that."

Danielle shined during last year's local Hershey's meet held in Cape Girardeau and she went on to finish third in the long jump and fourth in the 50-meters during the state meet.

"Then this year she said `I'm going back and I'm going all the way,' " said Robyn with a chuckle. "I said `we'll see.' "

Danielle made good on her promise. After once again excelling during the local qualifying in June, she continued her success at the state level by winning both the 50-meters and long jump and placing fourth in the 100-meters.

There is no actual regional competition, but qualifiers for the big North American Meet are determined by comparing times from eight regionals across North America.

Missouri is in the Great Lakes Region, along with Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.

Danielle's impressive time of 7.34 seconds in the 50-meters was the fastest among 9-10-year-old girls in the entire Great Lakes Region. The Gross family received the call that Danielle had qualified the week after the state meet.

"I was jumping around when I heard," said a smiling Danielle.

Robyn said Danielle's speed comes from David, a former standout in both football and baseball at Southeast Missouri State University who was an area teacher/coach for a number of years and is now the principal at North Elementary School in Jackson.

"Thank goodness she gets her speed from her dad because I'm more of an endurance person," said Robyn, who teaches physical education in the Cape Girardeau school system.

Danielle, who said she hopes to continue to compete in sports throughout at least high school, is hopeful of making a splash at the Hershey's North American Meet, which her parents will attend.

"If I work hard, I think I can do well," she said. "I'll have to work hard because I know everybody will be really fast."