CORNER BROOK — Greg Hall could have found himself in hot water if there was a police speed trap at Blow Me Down Trails Saturday.
Hall, a member of the Corner Brook Vikings, brought smiles to the faces of everybody with his blistering pace at the snowshoeing venue at the 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Special Olympic Winter Games.
White powder could be seen flying everywhere as Hall claimed a gold medal in the 100-m and 200-m snowshoe races under clear skies and a light breeze.
“I just went as fast I could,” an elated Hall said moments after being picked up off the snow by fellow Special Olympians and a swarm of volunteers.
The speed in which Hall travelled across the snow didn’t go unnoticed by the enthusiastic crowd who showed up to cheer on the Special Olympians.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” a parent said after Hall won his first race of the day in which he bolted to the finish line with no challenger within striking distance.
Medals were handed out in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and floor hockey as 180 athletes, coaches and support staff converged on Corner Brook for the annual showcase of Special Olympian talent.
However, it was the personal side of things that seemed to catch the attention of those who witnessed the competition. Athletes crossing the finish line received high-fives from friends and family, tears were shed, hugs were exchanged and everybody walked away feeling like a winner.
For some of the athletes, just getting to cross the finish line seemed like a golden moment in their life.
“You did it. You did it,” Janice Cassell of Deer Lake said to her daughter Stephanie Cassell after finishing her first snowshoeing race at the Games.
Erica Bullen of Corner Brook claimed the gold medal in the 100-m snowshoe event and bronze in the 200-m event. However, she was more interested in the social side of things, particularly the big dance at the athletes village Saturday night.
“I’m really looking forward to the dance now,” she said to The Western Star in the lodge during a break from the action. “I have new buckles for my hair and I am going to look real pretty tonight.”
Bullen, like so many other Special Olympians who participate in the Games on an annual basis, she was hoping to meet some new friends and get acquainted with some old ones.
She was ever so proud when she informed her dad, Tony Bullen, that a Special Olympian had extended an invitation for her to come visit.
Daniel Moores was focusing his energy on doing well in the cross-country ski event and was a triple gold medalist — winning top honours in the 100-m, 1.5-km and 2.5-km races.
Patricia Wiseman, also a nordic skier for the host side, claimed three silver medals for her efforts.
The other medal winners from the host team included snowshoer Krista Wilton (gold 100-m and bronze in 200-m), snowshoer Allison Decker (gold 200-m, silver 100-m), snowshoer James Pike (silver 200-m) and snowshoer Cheyenne Moore (gold 200-m) and snowshoer Alicia Burke (bronze 100-m).
The complete results for the 2011 SONL Winter Games weren’t available at press time.
