Recent History – 2001
By Rick Davison, Daily News Staff
To say the six Dawson Creek athletes who will competing at the provincial Special Olympics in Prince George Friday, Saturday and Sunday are anticipating the event may be a bit of an understatement.
“They are very pumped and haven’t stopped talking about it for weeks. They are very excited,” said Dawson Creek team manager Tracy Hunter-Pierce.
The half-dozen local athletes are Diane McInnis, the lone swimmer in the local contingent, and five bowlers, including Chrystal Wheat, Shantel Houde, Mike Hendricks, Jeff Schrock, and Lisa Perry.
Hunter-Pierce and bowling head coach Lauralee Cooper will also be in Prince George for the three-day meet.
The team will join more than 1000 other Special Olympians from around the province at the B.C. Special Olympics – Prince George Summer Games 2001. For three days the athletes will compete in various sports and take part in fun social events that all begin with the opening ceremonies tonight and wrap up with the closing ceremonies Sunday evening.
All the athletes have been training hard in anticipation of the provincial competition that, like the Olympics, takes place every four years, said Hunter-Pierce.
McInnis normally trains twice a week, but more recently has been at the pool every day, swimming a demanding 40 lengths each day under the tutelage of coach Allison Mattson
The bowling team has been practising Saturdays and Wednesdays.
All six athletes earned the right to attend the provincial meet after regional qualifiers this spring. The top three in each event from this Prince George competition move on to the national Special Olympics next year.