Special Olympics athletes from Elko competed in track and field events in Reno twice over the last month. The fabulous 15 from Elko competed against northern Nevada athletes on May 19th and culminated their 2018 track season by competing against nearly 200 track and field athletes on June 2nd from all Special Olympics programs in Nevada. A total of 450 athletes and coaches from Nevada participated in this year’s Summer Games. The athletes competed, received medals and ribbons from law enforcement agencies from all over our great state including three Representatives from our very own Elko County Sheriff’s Office. The incredible weekend was capped off by an evening of dancing to their favorite songs!
Special Olympics Nevada and Special Olympics Elko would not exist without the hard work, contributions and collaborative efforts of committed community volunteers. For many years, Nevada’s law enforcement agencies lead the way in contributions, fund-raising events and volunteering their personal time to support our athletes. Our Elko area law enforcement agencies are a committed group of professionals including Elko County Sheriff’s Office, Elko Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol and other northeastern Nevada agencies. Sheriff Jim Pitts has been a leader in supporting Nevada’s Special Olympic athletes for many years. Our local law enforcement agencies raise more funds than any other group with The Torch Run, Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Tip-a-Cop and our celebrated Cops and Burgers event. Local area merchants, led by Gold Dust West, Ledgestone Hotel and TownePlace Suites, support our local program each year. It is the continued support of Telescope Lanes (bowling) and Elko High School (track and field) that allow our athletes the facilities to train and prepare for their competitions. Spring Creek High School’s KEY CLUB raised money and traveled to Reno for Summer Games to volunteer their time to ensure our athletes were safe and well taken care of at Summer Games. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they escorted athletes from event to event at the athletic venue. A big thank you to Coach USA and Frederick Becker for transporting us safely to our events. Our athletes would have never trained nor traveled and competed without our invaluable Special Olympics volunteer coaches from Elko. They accounted for and kept safe all of our athletes during our travel, over-night stays and during competition. Coaches Tami, Barb, Amber and Patty…thank you! Thank you to Sonny and the entire HHDS staff for supporting our athletes. Harry and Jordan from Special Olympics Nevada…Team Elko greatly appreciates your commitment to make our athletes’ experiences positive and life-long memories.
Elko’s Ryan Allred was selected from 3,200 Special Olympic Nevada athletes to join 27 other Nevada athletes at the 2018 USA Games in Seattle. Ryan will participate in the running long jump, shot put and the 100 meter dash at the track and field competition. Ryan competed in regional and state competitions and continues to train for his July competition in Seattle. ESPN will be broadcasting some of the competitions. Ryan is excited to be going to USA Games and honored to represent Elko and Nevada.
GO RYAN!!!