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06/20/2008 |
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The Upshur County Special Olympics softball team racked up the hits recently to bring home the Division II gold medal from Charleston.
The team competed in the Summer Olympics Games in a double elimination format and played neighboring Barbour County for the championship game, according to director Susan O’Dell. The final score was 23-12.
The gold medalist team had 10 athletes, including some competing for the first time, and five unified partners. To gear up for Special Olympics, team members practiced twice a week for two hours each. Brian Cole is the head coach of the team.
The softball team traveled to Charleston with the Upshur County Special Olympics group — once again having the largest delegation. There were 42 athletes, six coaches and eight volunteers. Track and field, swimming and bocce were also included in the games.
As a county director, O’Dell was a sports event supervisor for these games. |
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06/07/2008 |
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It's exciting to win for the West Virginia Olympians in Charleston. Samantha Jarrell is a Special Olympics veteran. She has competed in the games for 28 years and medaled at the national competition. But she was still excited to join West Virginia Olympians new and old as they cycled, swam and jumped for the gold this weekend in Charleston. About 1,100 athletes and coaches joined hundreds of volunteers Saturday for the second day of competition. They cheered for participants from the 33 counties represented at the summer games. The state Special Olympics is part of the international organization that provides opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to compete athletically. The weekend competitions were spread around the city, with field games at Laidley Field, aquatic races at the YMCA, softball at the King Center and cycling and tennis at Coonskin Park. The events included an opening ceremony Friday and victory dance Saturday night. |
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