Special Olympics
Everyone is a champion at Special Olympics event
By Melissa Wood
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. The team from York High School celebrated wins in the running long jump at the York County Special Olympics. On the podium, Chris Blaisdell took first place with Ryan Price winning second, T.C. Conlon third and James McLean fifth. Teams from York Middle School, York Village Elementary School and Coastal Ridge Elementary School also participated. Also pictured is Ambur Towers of York Village Elementary School as she receives a ribbon for placing third in the 50-meter dash.
Photos by Melissa Wood
KITTERY - York students and teams were among those taking part in the York County Special Olympics, held at Shapleigh Middle School in Kittery on Thursday, May 3.
The event drew 350 athletes from around York County, which was 70 more than the previous year.
Teams from York High School, York Middle School, Village Elementary School and Coastal Ridge Elementary School participated.
Among those winning awards were Ryan Price of York High School, who took first place in the 100 meter, and Michael Spencer, who enjoyed a win in the first heat of the shot put competition. York students Chris Blaisdell took first place with Ryan Price winning second, T.C. Conlon third, and James McLean in the running long jump event. Ambur Towers of Village Elementary School placed third in the 50-meter dash and Teal Kim, also of Village, had a first-place win.
Other athletes from Village Elementary School included Aydin Mello and Matthew MacGlashing.
In keeping with the spirit of the games, the York Police Department will be on hand at Irving on Route 1 on June 2 to pump gas, wash windows, \towel dry and vacuum cars at the annual "Fueling Dreams" car wash benefit for Special Olympics Maine.
There will be giveaways, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Irving has also agreed to donate 5 cents of every dollar of gas to Special Olympics Maine to help challenged individuals in Maine live their dreams.
All donations and proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Maine.
If you are not able to make it to Irving that day, donations may also be made online care of York Police Officers Tyler Hathorne and John Lizanecz at www.firstgiving.com/thathorne and www.firstgiving.com/jlizanecz.
For more information, contact Hathorne or Lizanecz at 363-4444.
See next week's edition of The Independent for a special feature on York High School's JOB program for teens with special needs.
