Local athletes post top finishes at Special Olympics Northern Summer Regionals

SWIMMING

MOSCOW — Three athletes from Sandpoint competed in the Special Olympics Northern Summer Regionals swimming and aquatics competition this past Saturday, May 3, at the University of Idaho Swim Center. 

Bob Leichtman, Jordan Bennett and Campbell Wyman only had three weeks to train together before the competition. Despite that, they came home, accomplished but tired, with blue ribbons and personal bests to show for their efforts.

Leichtman placed first in the 15-yard walk with a time of 55.75 seconds, a new personal best by roughly five seconds. He also took first in the 25-yard flotation event with a time of 1 minute, 45 seconds.

Bennett placed first in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 47.27 seconds, a new personal best by two seconds. She also swam an incredible 200-yard freestyle, breaking the 3-minute mark (2 minutes, 59 seconds) for another first-place finish.

Wyman finished first in the 50-yard fly with a time of 37.82 seconds, a new personal best by five seconds. He then swam a strong and consistent 200-yard breaststroke, picking up another gold with a time of 3 minutes, 56 seconds.

At the last minute, Sandpoint pulled together a unified swim team to compete in the 4x25 freestyle relay. Wyman, Jordan Bennett, Trace Bennett and Owen Bennett rallied to victory with a time of 1 minute, 0.34 seconds.

"I am extremely proud of how our athletes performed," coach Meggie Foust said. "This season was cut short, but our swimmers proved their strength. We have just under a month to build our endurance in preparation for state."

The Special Olympics Idaho State Summer Games' aquatics competition will take place on Saturday, June 7 at the Nampa Recreation Center.

TRACK & FIELD

MOSCOW — A handful of athletes from Sandpoint went up against teams from Bonners Ferry, Coeur d'Alene, the Silver Valley, Moscow and Lewiston at the Special Olympics Northern Summer Regionals track & field competition held this past Saturday, May 3, at the University of Idaho.

Caitlyn Bayles was first in the 10-meter and 25-meter motorized wheelchair events. Chelsea Dennis received first-place ribbons in the motorized wheelchair 200-meter and 50-meter slalom events as well as the tennis ball throw.

In women's events, Alyssa Knapp received second place in the 25-meter walk, fourth place in the 50-meter walk and fifth place in the softball throw. Hayley Thompson, one of the event's top female athletes, earned first place in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the running long jump. 

In men's events, David Hamilton placed fourth in the 25-meter dash, third in the 50-meter dash and fifth in the softball throw. Roy Burrow was awarded first in the 50-meter dash, fourth place in the 100-meter dash and fifth place in the softball throw. 

John Painter earned third place in both the 100-meter and 200-meter race walks as well as fourth place in the softball throw. Kyle Horowitz ran to a first-place finish in his 100-meter dash heat, a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash, and placed third in the softball throw. 

Burton Radonich, one of the competition's top male athletes, earned first-place finishes in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and running long jump.

Coach Chris Painter said the event went very smoothly and was safely run, crediting Special Olympics Idaho's Isaac Ries for his efforts in putting everything together.

Radonich, Thompson, and Horowitz will advance to the Special Olympics Idaho State Summer Games' track & field competition, which will be held Saturday, June 7, at Nampa High.

    Burton Radonich, left, and Hayley Thompson, right, show off the first-place ribbons they won at the Special Olympics Regionals track & field competition held earlier this month at the University of Idaho.
  

    Kyle Horowitz shows off the three ribbons he won while competing in the Special Olympics Regionals track & field competition.