Sandpoint Special Olympics team shines at regionals

SANDPOINT — A host of athletes claimed medals and had a fun time as the Sandpoint Special Olympics team competed at the regional meet in Moscow recently.

In track and field, new team member Caitlin Bayles received a first place in the 10 meter motorized wheelchair event and a first in the tennis ball throw. Chelsie Dennis recieved first place awards in the 50 meter motorized wheelchair slalom and the 400 meter race.

The youngest team member, 8-year-old Hayley Thompson, won both the standing long jump and the 50-meter dash. Robyn Dillworth finished second in both the 800 meter walk and the softball throw, and Tammy Shivel was second in her division of the softball throw and in the 50 meter race walk. John Painter won the 100 meter race walk and was second in the softball throw, Stacy Black received first in both the 400 meter and 800 meter walks, Michelle Couldry earned second place for the 400 meter walk and the softball throw, and Natasha Freeberg won the 50 meter dash and was third in the 100 meter dash.

In Swimming, Kevin Collins earned second place in the 15 meter unassisted swim and fourth place in the 25 meter freestyle, Cara Warren earned first place in the 10 meter walk and the 15 meter assisted swim, Missy Laker was second in the 50 meter freestyle and first in the 50 meter backstroke, and Ashley Lengyel finished second in the 25 meter freestyle and first in the 25 meter Butterfly.

This was the first year that Sandpoint has had a Basketball team go to summer games. They battled their way to a third place finish in their division. The team consists of Brandon Beck, Eliyah Allen, Sahl Underwood, Lee Hudson and Jackson Barth with unified partners Josh Lynn, Skye Rossman and San Olson-Thompson. Beck had the distintion of draining a 3-point shot along with four other baskets. Barth participated in the individual skills event, earning a first place.

In cycling, Bob Leichtman demonstrated his undaunted spirit in the 250 and 500 meter cycling races, earning a first and a third place.

The team now turns its attention to the Idaho State Summer Games, held in Moscow in two weeks.