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Scott Shaheen and Justin Harmon, both
of Louisville, carry the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" in the 2010 State Winter Games Opening Ceremonies. |
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For some of the nearly 100 athletes who traveled to Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind., for the 2010 Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games, the wait to truly race again had been almost three years long. That was the last time that weather (rain in 2008 and excessive snow in 2009) hadn't interfered with the schedule for the Games. With that in mind there was even more excitement as the athletes took to the slopes and the snowshoeing course on Tuesday, January 26, knowing that was their chance to go for the Gold.
But the excitement had actually started well before that Tuesday morning, on Sunday, Jan. 24 during the Opening Ceremonies as four fresh new faces made their first official visits to the State Winter Games. The four, ranging in age from 3-6 years old were participants in the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program for those not quite old enough for full Special Olympics competition. One of the four -- 6-year-old Justin Harmon of Louisville -- participated in the lighting of the Special Olympics Kentucky Cauldron during the Opening Ceremonies, helping to get the Games underway.
The Opening Ceremonies were special for a couple of other reasons as well, For one, they marked the start of the 30th Annual Special Olympics State Winter Games, dating back to the opening of the old Ski Butler facility in Carrollton, Ky. They also marked the first official competition of Special Olympics Kentucky's 40th Anniversary year, the first chance for the program to really celebrate "40 Years of Changing Lives".
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Jamil Danzy of Louisville practices at the
Beginner hill on Monday during the
2010 State Winter Games. |
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The rain that drove the Opening Ceremonies indoors was gone by Monday morning, allowing for a beautiful morning of practice. Once again nearly 60 ski partners started the morning working individually with their skiers; in some cases teaching their athletes to ski for the first time, and in others pushing their athletes to test themselves on more difficult courses. On Monday afternoon, practice gave way to time trials to set the divisions for the next day's races. Monday night, as always, closed with the annual dinner and victory dance in the East Lodge at Perfect North.
Tuesday was race day. The Young Athletes participants got their runs in early on the developmental slopes and were first up for awards that afternoon. Other races went on throughout the day and several were incredible close. In the 20-meter Glide on the Developmental slope, Jeremy Cook of Lexington edged Daniel Kenealy of Louisville by just 0.07 seconds. One heat of the Beginner Giant Slalom saw Courtney Maston of Bowling Green nip Julianna McQuillen of Louisville by an even narrower 0.03 seconds. In the men's divisions of the same event, Steven Beltz of Pleasure Ridge Park High School sneaked past Quincy Bolton of Binet School, also by 0.07 seconds.
View photos from the 2010 State Winter Games
Our thanks to everyone who made the 2010 State Winter Games such a tremendous success -- the nearly 100 ski partners and course volunteers, the staff at Perfect North Slopes and our sponsors; Texas Roadhouse, Kroger, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run, the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, Perfect North Slopes, and Wendy's and KFC of Lawrenceburg.
The 2011 State Winter Games will be tentatively scheduled for Jan. 23-25. For more information or to request information about how you can get involved, contact Kim Satterwhite, Senior Program Director at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at ksatterwhite@soky.org.
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India Duncan of Binet School in Louisville strides toward her Gold Medal in the 100-meter snowshoe event. |
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Advanced-Plus Giant Slalom
F1 – Kelly McCormick, Pitt Polar Bears
M1 – Brandon Herzog, Pitt Polar Bears
Advanced Slalom
F1 –
Jenny Luken, Pitt Polar Bears
M1 – Paul Templeton, Campbell County Adults
M2 – Jimmy Todd, Campbell County Adults
M3 – Chuckie Walker, Campbell County Adults
M4 – Ronnie Lee Todd, Campbell County Adults
Advance Giant Slalom
F1 – Jenny Luken, Pitt Polar Bears
M1 – Paul Templeton, Campbell County Adults
M2 – Jimmy Todd, Campbell County Adults
M3 – Brad Harkleroad, Area 4 Snow Clippers
M4 – Ronnie Lee Todd, Campbell County Adults
Intermediate Slalom
F1 – Cassi Eiseman, Campbell County Adults
M1 – Howard Danzy, Goodman Independent
M2– Kyle Murphy, Churchill Park
Intermediate Giant Slalom
F1 – Casey Gloor, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M1 – Howard Danzy, Goodman Independent
M2 –Chuck Thompson, Campbell County Adults
Beginner Slalom
F1 – Sarah McQuillan, McQuillan Independent
F2
– Heather Lee Westover, Carroll County Special Olympics
M1– DaDay Nelson, Churchill Park
M2 – Dustin O'Neal, Carroll County Special Olympics
M3 – Neil Bolton, Binet School
Beginner Giant Slalom
F1 – Sarah McQuillan, McQuillan Independent
F2 – Courtney Maston, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
F3 – Wendy Brown , Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M1– Zack Brown, Binet School
M2 – Steven Peltz, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M3 – Neil Bolton, Binet School
Developmental 20-Meter Glide
F1 – Kelly Braugher, Guttermuth Elementary
M1 – Conner Wathen, Pitt Academy
M2 – Jeremy Cook, Fayette Snow Cats
Developmental 10-Meter Glide
F1 – Mandy Noe, Carroll County Special Olympics
M1 – LJ McWhorter, Binet School
M2 – Daniel Kenealy, Churchill Park
100-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Courtney Perkins , Pleasure Ridge Park High School
F2 – India Duncan, Binet School
M1 – Steven Denning, Carroll County Special Olympics
M2 – Todd Blaufuss, Goodman Independent
50-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Sarah Pinotti, Churchill Park
F2 – Ginna Chapin Greer, Bowling Green Adult Athletic Club
F3– India Duncan. Binet School
F4 – Rhonda Burns, Carroll County Special Olympics
M1 – Chimel Ford, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
M2 – Steven Denning, Carroll County Special Olympics
M3 – Todd Blaufuss, Goodman Independent
25-Meter Snowshoe
F1 – Nicole Vaught, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
F2 – Rhonda Burns, Carroll County Special Olympics
M1 – Chimel Ford, Pleasure Ridge Park High School
