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Williams Special Olympians warm up for state competition at regionals

Cheryl Hartz/Prescott Valley Tribune<br>
The Williams Special Olympics team walks onto the track during the state regional competition held in Prescott April 21. From left is Coach Deniz Chavez, Alicia Wilson, Santia Rodriguez, Karime Galaviz, Jacob Alexander, Coach Patti Jackson and Mark Konkel.

Cheryl Hartz/Prescott Valley Tribune<br> The Williams Special Olympics team walks onto the track during the state regional competition held in Prescott April 21. From left is Coach Deniz Chavez, Alicia Wilson, Santia Rodriguez, Karime Galaviz, Jacob Alexander, Coach Patti Jackson and Mark Konkel.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Every February, a group of athletes in Williams begin preparing for state-wide track and field competition.

Before the Williams Special Olympics team can compete at the state level, they must participates in the state regional competition held in Prescott last weekend.

Each athlete competes in two events in the competition. Mark Konel took the field competing in the running long jump and the 100 meter dash, Cindy Esparza entered the softball throw and the 50 meter dash and Thomas Markham entered the standing long jump and the 100 meter dash.

Bohannon Irving competed in the shot put, and 50 meter dash events, Jaccob Alexander, Santia Rodriguez and Alicia Wilson all competed in the 100 meter dash and the running long jump while Karime Galaviz entered the 100 meter wheel chair race and the shot put.

Bryant Wiese was unable to participate this year because of an injury.

Altogether, the team brought home eight gold medals, four bronze medals, three fourth place ribbons and one seventh place ribbon.

Coach Deniz Brock said the state competition is a high point of the year for her, Coach Patti Jackson and the athletes.

"We look forward to competing in the Summer Games this coming weekend and bringing home some more medals," she said. "They are so excited. They look forward to it every year."

February is a tough time to get outside for practice so the athletes practive inside Williams Elementary-Middle School.

"We'll do a lot of the running inside in the hallways at the school," Chavez said. "We go outside for the shot put and running long jump."

The team sports new uniforms this year they earned by working at Williams' annual barbecue competition.


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