Local athletes perform at summer games

Athletes from Team Fairfield competed in biking and track and field events at the 2013 Special Olympics Summer Games May 23-24 in Ames.

The local team was very successful, and the 12 total competitors combined to win sixth first-place medals as well as six runner-ups.

The biggest winner for Team Fairfield was Joe Blain, who tallied half of the team?s victories. Blain was first in the 250-meter bike race, 50-meter dash and mini-jav. Jessica Clements and Kim Van Rees both added one win in the 50-meter walk, and Shannon Hinkle came in first in the softball throw.

Second-place medals were earned by Clements in the softball throw, Shelia Lord and Shannon Hinkle in the 50-meter walk and Ashley Workman in the mini-jav. Sarah Coleman picked up a pair of second-place results, including the 250-meter bike race and mini-jav.

Fabien Tourenne finished third in the 250-meter bike race, Ronnie Withrow was third in the shot put and Coleman added a third-place result in the standing long jump. Other results included fourth-place finishes from Clements (250-meter biking) and Dale Noe (softball throw), and sixths from Macayla Coffin (100-meter walk) and Jim Messer (softball throw).

Coaches and volunteers who assisted were Lorraine Hill, Kayla Stanley, Jazzy Hotek, Greg Shelangoski, and Scott and Sheila Clements.