These local athletes will compete in the Ohio Special Olympics Summer Games in Columbus this weekend. They are from left, Austin Boblitt (track and field) and the bowling team of Caleb Wears, Riley Karcher, Ivan Green and Michael Fuller.
(Photo submitted)
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The Marysville and Union County Schools Special Olympics teams will compete in the state Summer Games at The Ohio State University this weekend.
The event is beginning its 46th year in the state of Ohio.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin today, 6:30 p.m., at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, which was the site of the state high school track and field meet earlier this month.
Competition will begin for local athletes with the male softball throw at 8 a.m. Saturday at OSU’s Coffey Fields.
The local bowling team will compete at Sawmill Lanes on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Members of the team are Riley Karcher, Ivan Green, Michael Fuller and Caleb Wears.
The female 50 and 100 meter dashes will be held on Saturday, 1:30 p.m., at Owens Stadium.
There will be more activity on Sunday.
The male 100 meter dash will be contested at 9 a.m., followed by the 200 meter dash at 10:45 a.m.
The female softball throw will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday at Coffey Fields.
Those competing on the track and field team will be Austin Boblitt, Grayson Green (Fairbanks), Andrew Wright, Lyndsie Anspach and Summer Smith.
The local athletes qualified for the state Summer games after competing at the local and district levels.
“They have all worked very hard at becoming a better athlete through their practices and competitions up until this point,” said Special Olympics coordinator Robin Wright.
The local bowlers practice for six weeks in the fall and compete at several district tournaments throughout the winter and spring.
The track and field athletes practice twice a week for six weeks in the spring. They then compete in three track meets around central Ohio leading up to the Summer Games weekend.