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Sault athletes exceed expectations in skiing, snowshoeing events
By Sault Star Staff, The Sault Star, February 4, 2002
There were nothing but smiles emanating from the the Sault Ste. Marie contingent taking part in two events at the Special Olympics provincial championships in Barrie during the weekend.
The coaching staffs, in particular, couldn't help but smile after watching their ski and snowshoe athletes exceed expectations during the two-day event.
Snowshoe specialists Sam Holmes, John Eshkibok and Jamie Hooper captured seven medals, including three gold.
Skiers Ricky Francis, Jason Lemke, Robbie Lewis, Brendan Peters and Mathew Macmichael responded 18 medals, including six gold.
"I think they surprised a lot of people, including themselves," said Sault snowshoe coach David Rankin. "It was a great competition, and we were really pleased with the results. They were up against a lot of good athletes, and were able to put it all together."
The lucrative showing culminated many weeks of gruelling workouts for the Sault team, beginning with dryland training last fall.
In the snowshoe events, Holmes won gold in the 400-metre event and also collected silver medals in the 100m and 200m races.
Eshkibok won gold medals in the 100m and 200m races while Hooper came home with bronze medals in the 100m and 200m events.
In the ski events, Francis took gold in the 10-kilometre race and accepted another gold when his relay team finished first.
Lewis, Peters and Macmichael also collected gold medals for helping their respective relay teams finish first.
Peters was also a double gold-medal recipient after taking the 1km race.
Lemke took a silver and Lewis a bronze in their respective 1km events.
The snowshoe events were divided up by ability.
The Sault snowshoe and ski teams will participate in the regionals in Timmins in two weeks.
Some will also be taking part in the Canadian championships, scheduled for next year in Prince Edward Island.