Endeavor Games, Edmond, Oklahoma

The Endeavor Games were held the second week of June in Edmond, Oklahoma.  Boy, was it hot and humid!  Thanks to my uncle and cousins who live nearby who came and endured the heat with us.

This event is one of the largest multi-sport, parasport events in the US.  There were more that ten sports available in which to compete. The motto was pretty much, "Just sign up and try it!  Why not?"  I was able to participate in an air rifle clinic.  If I get the chance, I'd love to try that again.

My track times were not as strong as they were in Arizona at the Desert Challenge, but I think the heat had me beat.  I was able to meet younger athletes and cheer them on, as well as some
seasoned coaches who cheered me on!  I had a blast watching and learning about sports that I have never tried before like powerlifting and sitting volleyball.  I watched my new friend, Liberty Freeman, swim her way to five gold medals, and I think I will be seeing her again in Toyko in 2020.  Here is her story:  http://tucson.com/sports/liberty-s-motto-i-m-gonna-beat-you/article_80bd6e2e-a899-5f54-ac29-f96007418aeb.html?mobile_touch=true

Many veterans were present at this particular event, and it was an honor to meet them and see the determination and poise with which they conducted themselves.

Desert Challenge Games

In May, I was in Tempe, Arizona for the Desert Challenge Games.  It was a very cool experience.  In my racing career, I had only done road races, so this was the first time that I participated in a track event.  Besides the hours of practice that dad and I spent on the track in preparation for this event, the only other experience I had on the track was at track camp at the University of Illinois in the summer of 2014.  Another new experience for me while in Arizona was being nationally classified, which I explained in an earlier post.

Because of my age, I was placed in the Women's category instead of the girls for most of the races.  All week long I was competing against Hannah McFadden and Cheri Madsen both of whom are former Paralympians going to the Rio time trials.  They pushed me to go faster because they were ahead of me.

I had a few times throughout the week when someone would ask, "What events did you sign up for this week?"  I would reply,  "Well,  I signed up for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m events."  I would then get a look that said "Have you lost your mind?"   It turned out that I was not too crazy because I made my goal and made qualifying times in all of the events for the National Junior Disability Championships.

 My times were as follows.

100m=21.93
200m=40.09
400m=1:13.49
800m=2:38.72
1500m=5:13.81
5000m=18:21.09

A huge thank you to Wyron and Jennifer Bobis, my cousin, who opened their home in Phoenix to all of us for the week of competition.  It was a blessing to have a home to come back to in the evenings rather than a hotel room.  It was also great to get to know them and their kids.