Local Sports Page Updated: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 1:07 PM PDT

No sweat

By Jack Carrerow, Staff Writer

 

Even with 104-degree heat, 1,400 athletes of Special Olympics showed up to the 2008 Summer Games in Hillsboro to compete in such varied events as golf, track and field, gymnastics, softball and bocce ball.

Fifty of the athletes from the South Coast came away from the competition with 11 medals and a ton of self-esteem.

Special Olympics Oregon Director of Public Relations Don Cook said there was a big turnout at all the venues that hosted events, including Hillsboro Stadium and Liberty High School.

“I would say with friends, family and just plain spectators, there were a few thousand people there,” Cook said. “We always have a nice turnout. The community is very supportive of Special Olympics and it’s the second year that we’ve held it here.”

Cook said the heat didn’t appear to affect performances on the field, although some of the spectators had a little problem with the high temperature.

“Nothing seems to bother these athletes, “Cook said. “In fact, it seems like something like a little warm weather only spurs them on. They are just pure athletes and extremely competitive.”

Results for South Coast athletes include:

Tonya Boyter: bronze medal in softball throw, gold medal in 50-meter dash.

Matthew Bruckert: sixth place 100-meter dash, gold medal in shot put.

Cathy Caldera: sixth place in softball, gold medal in 50-meter dash.

Gregory Crew: sixth place 100-meter dash, fifth place shot put.

William Everest: bronze medal in 50-meter dash, fourth place in softball throw.

Darin Jenkins: bronze medal 1,500-meter run, fifth place 3,000-meter run.

Katlin Lewis: fifth place shot put, seventh place 400-meter walk.

Bruce Miller: fifth place 200-meter dash, sixth place long jump.

Sarah Rose Saposnik: sixth place standing long jump, fifth place shot put.

Deborah Streets: bronze medal standing long jump, sixth place shot put.

Jess Venegas: silver medal shot put, bronze medal 400-meter walk.

Johnny Waller: silver medal shot put, fourth place 100-meter dash.

Tyler Wideman: bronze medal shot put, sixth place 100-meter dash.

4X100-meter relay team — Bruckert, Crew, Wideman, Waller: bronze medal.

4X100-meter unified relay team — Trish Jordan, Miller, Saposnik, Matt Baker: silver medal.

 

 

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