Niemeyer Selected To Represent Missouri At 2010 Special Olympics National Games
Niemeyer Selected To Represent Missouri At 2010 Special Olympics National Games
The Special Olympics USA National Games will be held July 18-23, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Three Special Olympic athletes from the Kirksville area will be part of Missouri’s delegation of more than 160 athletes and coaches. Team Missouri athlete will compete individually in aquatics, athletics, bocce, bowling, golf, power lifting and tennis; the delegation will also include teams in basketball, flag football, softball, and volleyball.
Team Missouri will travel to Lincoln to create some MO Magic along with 51 other delegates from the United States. More than 3,000 athletes are expected to compete at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the 2010 National Games. Over 1,000 coaches are expected and an estimated 8,000 volunteers will participate during this special event.
The Northeast Missouri delegates to Team Missouri include:
Jennifer Creason, who will represent Team Missouri in Bowling. Jennifer resides in Kirksville, and is a 2007 graduate of Kirksville High School. She has participated in Special Olympics approximately nine years and reports her favorite Special Olympics memory is walking in the Parade of Athletes at the Opening Ceremony of the 2007 State Basketball Championships.
Adam Marino will be competing in Athletics, or track and field events. Adam Marino has participated in Special Olympics for several years; beginning while a student at Knox County High School and continuing now as a young adult who resides in and is employed in the Kirksville community. Adam is honored to represent Missouri in the 2010 National Games and training to do his best!
Jared Niemeyer is a junior at Kirksville high School, but also began Special Olympics while an elementary student in the Knox County School District. Jared will also be a member of the Athletics team; competing in the shot put, 400-meter, 4×400 meter relay and running long jump. Jared reports one of his most memorable Special Olympic moments was when members of the Kirksville Tiger Basketball Team came to the 2009 Spring Games at Truman to cheer on the Special Olympic athletes.
For Special Olympics athletics, participation in a national event provides the opportunity to represent their community and state, promotes greater self-confidence and the opportunity to create lifelong memories. Participating in these events with athletes from all across the nation is truly a moment that they have only dreamed of.
For more information, you may visit the Special Olympics website, www.somo.org/teammissouri.
