Special Olympians earn medals at state games
By From staff reports
Published in News on June 22, 2011 1:46 PM
Special Olympics Wayne County sent 22 athletes to the State Games in Raleigh recently, participating in the areas of athletics, aquatics and powerlifting.
Athletes competed in running and walking events, the shot putt and long jump events. Coached by Darlene and Eddie Britt and Roy Tate, all eight local participants brought back awards.
Moses Bland won one gold and one bronze; Marcus Cox won one gold and one silver and a fourth-place ribbon; Jonathan Delano won two bronze; Scott Britt and Shannon Moore each won one gold; Brian Hammonds won one gold, one bronze and an eighth-place ribbon; Miguel Sheffield won one gold, one silver and one bronze; and Dorothy Wilson received a bronze medal.
Aquatics athletes competed in the butterfly, breast stroke, backstroke, free-style and relay events. Coaches were Karen Seller, Debi Walderman and Donny Countryman.
Local award winners included Jessie Martinez with five gold medals; Erica Walderman, three gold, one silver and one fifth-place ribbons; Alan Jenkins, two gold, one silver and one bronze; Jenifer Cruz, two gold, two bronze and one fourth-place ribbon; Connor LaLuz, one gold, two fourth-place and one sixth-place ribbon; Heather Pardue, one gold and one fourth-place ribbon; Richard Brisson, two bronze; Mack Jennette, one bronze; Angela Davis, one bronze and a seventh-place ribbon; and Leah Jones, a fifth-place ribbon.
The powerlifting athletes, coached by Lisa Weston and Robert Walker, competed in bench press and dead lift events. Collin Kornegay won three gold; Robert Benson won one gold; Jarnell Parker won two gold and one silver; and Jessie McCracken won one silver and two fourth-place ribbons.