Olympians Honor Local Student Athletes

Former Olympians and sports stars gathered at the Bridgewater Marriot Friday to support the Joetta Clark Diggs Foundation at the organization's 7th annual Sports Extravaganza.

The extravaganza helps fund the foundation's activities, which promote involvement in physical activities for girls and boys ages 5 through 12.

Joetta Clark Diggs, of Hillsborough, is a four‐time Olympian and has been America's premier female middle distance runner for more than three decades. A graduate of Columbia High School in Maplewood and the University of Tennessee, Diggs is considered by track enthusiasts as the most prolific 800-meter runner of all time.

Diggs has been ranked among the top 10 in America for more than 20 years, and ranked top 10 in the world nine times.

This year's extravaganza, "Down Memory Lane," gave tribute to great athletes who have been exemplary people both on and off the field.

Some of the athletes in attendence included 1996 400-meter Olymipic gold medalist Derrick Adkins, 1984 welterweight Olympic gold medalist Mark Breland, former New York Jets running back Bruce Harper, former Negro League pitcher Pedro Sierra, 1964 Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Roberts, and former 55-meter hurdles world record holder Candy Young.

Several high school students were also honored as final recipients for $1,000 and a laptop through the foundation.

Those students recognized were David Pulsifer, of Hillsborough High School; Abisola Adewolu, of Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School; Ashley Ezema, of Hunterdon Central Regional High School; and Dalvona Amani, of East Orange Campus High School.