MANITOULIN—The Manitoulin Special Olympics (MSO) track and field team, the Manitoulin Striders, brought home a staggering 36 medals including 24 gold medals from a regional Ontario meet held June 24 in North Bay.
“They did awesome; every one of our athletes got a gold medal,” stated MSO coordinator and coach Janet Anning. “Our athletes were taking part in the annual Jack Lyons Special Olympics regional track and field meet at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall’s Cundari Field in North Bay.”
Matthew Bedard won gold medals in all events he took part in his age division at the competition. He was first in the 1,500 run in a time of five minutes 40.59 seconds, 3,000 metre run in a time of 11 minutes 52.75 seconds and first in the 800 metre run with a time of two minutes, 40.16 seconds.
Michael Cormier, age 32, earned four gold medals and a fourth-place ribbon at the competition. Mr. Cormier was first in the 100-metre run in a time of 19.58 seconds, 200 metre run with a time of 42.22 seconds, first in the long jump with a jump of two metres 7.00 centimetres and first in the mini-javelin with a throw of 11 metres 30.00 centimetres. Mr. Cormier placed fourth in the shot put, six metres 20.00 centimetres.
Norman D’Aoust, 58, took top spot in all four events he competed in. Mr. D’Aoust was first in the 100-metre run in a time of 34.51 seconds, first in the 200-metre run in one minute, 13.42 seconds, first in the mini-javelin 400 gram with a throw of 1 metre 91.00 centimetres. He was also first in the softball throw-three metres, 10.00 centimetres.
Twenty-one-year-old Dylan Danville garnered a gold medal in the 400-metre run in a time of two minutes, 1.83 seconds. He won silver medals in two events, the mini javelin 400 grams with a throw of 13 metres, 56.00 centimetres and the men’s shot put, six metres, 20 centimetres. He was third in the 200-metre run in a time of 41.21 seconds and fourth in the 100-metre run in a time of 19.02 seconds.
William Leclair, 29, brought home two gold medals. He was first in the men’s four-kilogram shotput with a throw of seven metres 30.00 centimetres, and first in the mini javelin 400 gram with a throw of 10 metres 56.00 centimetres. Mr. Leclair was fourth in two other events, the long jump-two metres 80.00 centimetres and the 100-metre run in a time of 20.10 seconds.
Kelsey Mellan, 32, won two gold medals and two silver medals in the competition. She was first in the 200-metre run in a time of one minute 13.13 seconds, and the mini-javelin 300 grams with a throw of three metres 60.00 centimetres. Her two silver medals were in the 100-metre run with a time of 33.79 seconds and in the women’s shotput with a throw of two metres, 95.00 centimetres.
Aaron Nickol, 39, earned two gold medals, a silver and a bronze medal. He was first in the softball throw with a throw of 10 metres, 10 centimetres, the standing long jump, 95 centimetres. He won a silver medal in the mini javelin 400 gram with a throw of five metres 93 centimetres. He placed third in the 100-metre run in a time of 24.41 seconds.
Austin Recollet, age 16, won gold medals in two events being first in both the mini javelin 400 gram with a throw of nine metres 15 centimetres and the 4-kilogram shot put with a throw of five metres, 20 centimetres.
Bruce Vanhorn, 60, won four gold medals and one silver medal. He was first in the 100-metre run in a time of 21.72 seconds, 200 metre run with a time of 48.10 seconds, first in the mini javelin four metres, 74.00 centimetres, and the softball throw-eight metres 10.00 centimetres. He was second in the standing long jump, 85.00 centimetres.
Ms. Anning wanted to thank all the MSO coaches who went with the team including Sandy Graham, Julie Deschamps, Herb Leclair and Joanne Mellan as well as parent volunteers Kathy Nichol, Lori Danville and Shanah Pitawanakwat.
Special Olympics athletes from across the region gathered in North Bay.
