Wayne Special Olympians do well at Raleigh Games
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 10, 2007 2:00 AM
From staff reports
Special Olympics athletes from Wayne County participated in the 2007 state's summer games in Raleigh June 1-3, coming home with 56 medals and 16 ribbons.
More than 1,300 athletes from around the state competed in six different sports. Twenty-four local athletes participated in aquatics, track and field, and sent its first ever power-lifting team.
The aquatics team, coached by Debi Walderman and Karen Sellner, earned 28 medals and six ribbons. Athletes participated in free-style, breast stroke, butterfly stroke, backstroke, walking and relay race events.
Team members and their awards included Erica Walderman, five medals; Alan Jenkins and Jesse Martinez, four medals each; Jenifer Cruz, three medals and two ribbons; Leah Jones and Melissa Stanford, each with three medals and one ribbon; Heather Pardue, three medals; David McRoy, two medals; Rich Brisson, one medal and one ribbon; and Mack Jennette, one ribbon.
The athletics team, coached by Kathleen and Dean Parrish, competed in running, long jump, shot put, softball throw and walking events, earning 20 medals and 10 ribbons. Recipients included: Brooke Mayton and Jacqueline Spearman, each with two medals and one ribbon; Jamie Keller, Marcus Cox, Angela Keyes and Brian Hammond, three medals each; Miguel Sheffield and Scott Britt, two medals each; Michael Solomon and Jonathan Delano, each with one medal and two ribbons; and Tammy Drake, one medal and one ribbon.
The first power-lifting team from Wayne County was coached by Don Jenkins, Robert Benson, Sr. and R.L. Gurley.
Three athletes participated in the bench lift, dead lift and overall competition, receiving eight medals.
Ryan Hood and Shannon Moore each received three medals, while two medals went to Robert Benson, Jr.
Special Olympians from Wayne County are now preparing for the mid-summer games bowling and equestrian events, to be held in Raleigh in late July.
For more information about the program or to volunteer, contact Rich Walderman at 734-7023.