Today we begin our #SundaySpotlight series on WeAreSOSC.org and our first feature fittingly starts with the athletes. Our spotlight will be a little more focused, so today we will take a look specifically at the competition.
From the waters of the pool to the links of the golf course, then to the mat at gymnastics, the will to compete burns bright with all Special Olympics athletes. From the 100-meter dash to the championship matches at bocce and basketball, the competition was on display at the 48th annual Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games.
Throughout Sunday on the SOSC social media channels, we will feature just a small taste of the competition from the Games earlier this month. As an introduction, here are some of our top pictures are photographers captured during the thrill of competing.
ONE ONE-HUNDREDTH
Fitting of an annual championship, the competition at the Summer Games is at its best. Buzzer beaters, clutch putts, and photo finishes are more the norm than exception.
On the track, the 100-meter dash thrilled the crowd. MacKenzie Willis of Pomona earned gold by .05 seconds in the Division F06 race. Then there was the Division M05 100-meter dash that saw Temecula Valley’s Noah Lawrence win gold, running in 12.95 seconds. He edged out Long Beach’s Tim Woodall by four one-hundredth of a second. Just for perspective, the fastest time at the high school level in 2017 has been 10.50 seconds.
Closer yet on the track was the Division M02 400-meter walk won by Pomona’s John Berry. He claimed gold with a time of 2:36.91. He edged out teammate Austin Frederick by .02 seconds.
However, the best finish of the Games was in the pool for the 50-meter freestyle. Los Angeles’ Roberto Mendoza edged out Bakersfield’s My-Kel Whatley by one-one hundredth of a second. He finished at 41.86. Whatley finished in 41.87.
BRING HOME THE GOLD
You are looking at the best #SpecialOlympics golfer in all of @SOSoCal ..Kent wins gold (again)! My story on #SummerGames at 11pm on @News8 pic.twitter.com/j9KuXpfxmo
— Eric Kahnert (@EricNews8) June 12, 2017
WE GOT SOME HEAT
Our #SundaySpotlight video is more action from the 100-meter dash, this one from Division M01. These youngsters brought the “heat,” as told by the PA announcer Clarke Keppel. The stars of “We Got Some Heat” are Huntington Beach Roadrunners Sandler Chase and Sam Handy, San Gabriel Valley’s Ian Chan and South Bay’s Owen Mooney. They light-up the track in their first 100-meter run at Summer Games.
For complete results of the 2017 Summer Games, visit SOSC.org.