MANITOULIN—Manitoulin Special Olympics’ (MSO) Manitoulin Striders track and field team members dominated a regional competition held recently in Sturgeon Falls.
“We had a total of 16 athletes take part and we brought home 34 first place ribbons, nine second place finishes and two thirds,” said MSO coordinator and coach Janet Anning. “Every one of our athletes posted a personal best in at least one event at the meet.”
Casey Deeg, in the female age 12-15 division, posted personal best marks in all three of her events and took first place in all three. She was first in the 100 metre run with a time of 1:41; first in the 200 metre run with a time of 39.13 seconds; and first in the long jump with a jump of 2.91 metres.
Matthew Bedard, in the male 22-29 division, posted two first place finishes and set personal best marks in all three events he took part in. He posted a first place finish in the 1,500 metre run with a time of 5:17.35; was first in the 400 metre run with a time of 01:01.62; and second in the 800 metre run with a time of 02:29.45.
Kelsey Barss, in the female age 22-29 division, brought home two first place finishes, in the mini-javelin 300gr and softball throw, and posted a personal best in the 100 metre run with a time of 00:23.64 to finish fifth.
Michael Cormier, in the age 22-29 division, posted a personal best of 1.62 metres in the mini javelin 400gr men’s and set a personal best mark in the long jump (01:45.82) finishing second. He was second in the 400 metre run.
In the male age 40+ division, Mark Dokum was first in the 100 metre run, a personal best time of 00:14.93 seconds. He also brought home first in the mini javelin 400gr division with a throw of 22.75 metres and was second in the shot put.
Austin Featherstone won his two events in the male 22-29 division. He set a personal best time in the 3,000 metre run with a time of 10:46.84 and was first in the 800 metre run with a time of 02:17.89.
Clayton Fogal won all three of his events. He was first in the male age 30-39 division 100 metre run, with a time of 00:50.28 and set a best mark in the mini javelin 400gr men with a throw of 9.65 metres. He was also first in the softball throw with a throw of 27 metres.
David Gagne posted a personal best in the men’s 40+division 50 metre run with a time of 00:20.83. He was first in the softball throw with a throw of 6.1 metres, and finished second in the mini javelin 400.
Arthur Haines was first in his two events, sting personal best marks in both, in the male 40+ division. He was first in the 50 metre run with a time of 00:14.75, and first in the softball throw with a throw of 10.7 metres.
In the female age 22-29 division, Kelsey Mellan set a person best mark in the 400 metre run, taking first place in a time of 02:03.36. She finished second in the shot put and posted a personal best in the 200 metre run 00:57.05 in taking third place.
Aaron Nickol, in the male 30-39 division, took first place in two events and set personal bests in both. He was first in the 100 metre run in a time of 00:24.38, and in the mini javelin 400gr throw at 6.65 metres; he was third in the softball throw.
Josh Running, in the age 22-29 division, not only was first in all four events he took part in, but set personal best marks in three of the events. In the 100 metre run he took first with a time of 00:18.91; first in the 200 metre run with a time of 00:41.76, and first in the min javelin 400gr men with a shot of 9.6 metres. He was also first in the shot put-men 4kg, with a throw of 6.01 metres.
Competing in the male age 16-21 division, Andrew Splawanyk was first in the shot put-men 4 kg. He was second in the 400 metre run-posting a personal best time of 01:11.64.
Dayne Tipper was first in all three of his events in the male 22-29 age division. He took top spot in the 1,500 metre run in a personal best time of 09:47.51, set a personal best time in the 800 metre run (and finishing first) with a time of 04:45.88; and first place in the shot put men 4Kg with a throw of 3.16 metres.
Bruce Vanhorn, in the male age 40+ division, was first in the mini javelin 400gr men with a throw of 4.400 metres. He was first in the softball throw with a throw of 8.65 metres. He also set personal best marks in the 100 metre run, 00:20.24 with a fourth place finish, and placed second in the 200 metre run, 00:45.88.
