Fourteen Special Sports track athletes competed at the state Special Olympics meet at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9. They amassed a total of 14 medals among them.
Athletes represented the following schools: Stevens Point Area Senior High, P.J. Jacobs, Ben Franklin, Jackson, Washington, McKinley and Jefferson.
Mary Hagen led the way for the Special Sports team. She won a medal in all four of her events. Her highlight was winning the standing long jump for the fourth consecutive year. She also won the softball throw.
Robert Lohman also produced a fine performance at the meet. He proved himself to be one of the top 1,500-meter Special Olympians in the state by placing third in the top division. He lowered his best time to 5:27.
"Robert was absolutely awesome today. He stayed with Paul Talbott from Marshfield for three-quarters of the race," said coach Rich Johnson. "Talbot is famous for being an international Special Olympic track star in the 1,500- and 3,000-meters. However, Robert has been steadily decreasing the distance between himself and Talbott. Talbott continues to run in the mid 4's, while Robert has gotten his time down to 5:27."
Lohman also took fourth in the long jump and medalled in both relays where he was the anchor.
On the 4 x 400 relay, he took the baton about 30 meters behind the third-place runner and 200 meters behind the second-place runner. He easily overtook the third-place runner and launched his team into second place. Other members of the successful 4 x 400 relay team were Hogan, Nang Yang and Jesse Korbal.
Lohman anchored the 4 x 100 relay team to a third place. Other members of that team were Hogan, Levi Rahm and Paul Steinfort.
Other multiple medal winners included Andrea Curley, softball throw, second, shot put, third; Jesse Korbal, 200-meters, third, 4 x 400 relay, second; Shannon Laskowski, softball throw, second, 50 meters, third; and Yang, 1,500-meters, second, 4 x 400 relay, second.
Single event winners were Paul Steinfort, 4 x 100 relay, third; Levi Rahm, 4 x 100 relay, third; Lissa Hudek, 400- meters, third; Ye-Jin Harrison, standing long jump, second; and James Carver, 1,500-meters, second.
Additional results: Korbal, 400-meters, fifth;, Nathaniel Laube, 800-meters participation; Jessica Lukasavage, 50-meters, fifth; Raphael Smith, 50-meters, fourth; Steinfort, 400-meters, fifth; and Yang, 100-meters, fifth.
Johnson was assisted this season by Andy Larson, Luanne Piotrowski, Tina Laube and A.J. Schifferl. Athletes return to competition this summer in the sports of softball and bocce.