DSO Athletes in the News

Hugh Campbell

DSO runner, began running at age 87. Now at 88, he's breaking records. Read the article...

Marie Neaves

Special Olympics Delaware 5K Reindeer Run and Romp: Female winner – age group 65-69 – Marie Neaves 32:48.2

4 Delaware swimmers at the PA Senior Games on July 27.

Pictured from left to right are: Marie "Chris" Neaves, Karen Wallace, Maureen White, and Bernadette Antonioli.

DSO swimmers Participated in the Flowers Sea Swim on Grand Cayman Island

Three DSO swimmers participated in the 1 mile Flowers Sea Swim on Grand Cayman Island www.flowersseaswim.com. The race took place on Saturday, June 9th. 847 swimmers of all ages and abilities including about 12 former Olympians were at the start. They came from among others Australia, US, Barbados and many from the Cayman Islands.

Pictured are Karen Wallace, Marie (Chris) Neaves, and Maureen White before the race. All 3 did an outstanding job and finished in the top 45 % of all the swimmers. They had a wonderful time participating in the race and visiting the island.

Wayne Saulsbury - National Horseshoe Pitching Champion

Wayne Saulsbury, Delaware Senior Olympics Horseshoes Coordinator and Board Member, took the Men’s Class H-2 Championship at the National Horseshoe Pitching Association World Tournament. The Tournament was held in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana. Wayne’s friend, Harold Harget, encouraged Wayne to start attending the World Championships years ago. Harold recently passed away and Wayne, in his memory, used Harold’s horseshoes in the competition. At the podium, Wayne told the story of his friend Harold and said, “This one’s for you, Harold!”

Larry Binger Competed in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games

Larry competed in trap shooting, archery and bowling. This was Larry's 26^th year!

Local Master Track Racer wins 2 National Championships and the BAR (Best All Around Rider) Award at 7-11 Velodrome

It was a great week for local racer, Jo Johnson and her quest for another Masters Track National Championship the week of July 23 at the 7-11 Velodrome track in Colorado Springs, CO. She competed in 6 different track events, some of which were new to her and came away with 4 podium places including 2 National Championships. She said it was tough, fun and exhilarating all at the same time. Jo races for The Bike Boutique/ Deep Blue race team based in Wilmington under the management of Randy Inglis.

The first race was a 15 lap mass start race called the Scratch race. And it was an opportunity to see what the women would do. It was fast as the local Colorado gals with Jo in there with them jumped out to a nice lead. They managed to lap some of the other riders with Jo coming in first in her age group. Afterward, she remarked "I am so glad I came out a few weeks ahead to acclimate to the 6000 ft elevation".

Over the next days she would race in the Sprint and Time trial events which she had not experienced before. It was evident immediately that the start of these races is critical to your success. And she knew there was really tough competition as 4 women in her age group were getting their bikes checked for compliance measurements as they were going for world records. And they were set and reset during those competitions. The Sprint events start with a qualifying Flying 200 meter time to be used to match you against others. it is then the best 2 out of 3 matched sprints against this competition to see if you move through the semis to the finals. There were so many different tactics used to play "cat and mouse" throughout the day of racing. Ultimately she came in 3rd in her age group and plans on racing these sprints again in upcoming Regional and District competitions in Trexlertown, PA. Her 4th place medal was earned in the 2K Time Trial Pursuit. This again was a race in which the start was important and then of course holding your pace steady and fast throughout the next 6 laps. It should be easy but it is not as the intensity is at your most highest level. Some of the women came to the event just to race in these TT efforts. They are specialists at this and during this week, several new world records were set.

Her second first place and National Championship came in the 30 lap Points race. This was very tough group of 55+ age group women from all over the country. There were gals from Seattle, Southern California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, New York and me from Delaware. It was also her 5th consecutive day of racing and it was beginning to show as she was starting to feel tired. With my coach, Kate Gracheck, there to instruct and encourage her at turn 4, Jo was able to stay on track and finish with the lead group. It was a struggle to stay on the wheel of another rider and they were able to share the lead with half lap pulls to end up finishing with the lead group. She said she was lucky to come in first in her age group and win the BAR Award, Best All Around Rider, by 2 points.

"It was an awesome week, I have been so fortunate to compete well but I have alot to learn and practice to keep up with these gals". You can bet I will be ready for next year at Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis.

Next up, she will continue training and racing at the Valley Preferred Velodrome in Trexlertown, PA and compete in the Regional races mid August. In addition, she is the Race Director and Cycling Coordinator for the Delaware Senior Olympics 40+ Masters and Seniors Road Races in September in Smyrna and the Time Trials in October to be held in Dover Downs. For information on these events, contact Jo through the DSO office, 302-736-5698.

Bonnie Strang Attends Phillies Phantasy Camp

Bonnie Strang, DSO board member, attended the Phillies Phantasy Camp in Clearwater, FL. in January. The camp is one where fans get to play with the real big leaguers on the major league fields.This photo is of her first major league hit, the second is of her hit in Bright House Field.

Bonnie fielding. Great shot!

Harriet Mair Honored by the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame

Last year, Delaware Senior Olympics recognized this highly skilled woman with its 2011 Outstanding Athlete Award. Now, she is in the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame class of 2012!

Read more on the Hall of Fame website...

Bill Moyer Voted President of the Newly Formed Inland Bays Foundation

Established as a 501(c)3 organization, their mission is “to advocate and promote the restoration of the Inland Bays watershed. The Inland Bays Foundation takes citizen advocacy to the next level. Read Coastal Point article.

Larry Pratt Keeps Racking up Discus Championships

Larry Pratt of Newark, won the discus in the 65 – 69 age group at the National Training Center Track & Field Classic in Clermont, Florida in 2011.

Pratt, one of three competitors in his age group, threw the discus 145 feet, 10 inches to win.

Larry has competed in World Masters Discus, Potomoc Valley Games, Huntsman and more.

Larry holds 3 standing DSO records for the Discus for age groups 55 – 59, 60 – 64 and 65 – 69. The 65 – 69 record of 143 ft 2 in. was set in 2010.

Larry is the Assistant Track & Field Coach at the University of Delaware. Read more about Larry's Masters throwing career.

Bill Moyer, DSO Gold Medal Winner in swimming, 65/69 bracket, breast stroke 50yd, 100yd & 200yd and the triathlon, was just elected to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Bill is also on the DSO Board of Directors. Bill Moyer, Sports Coordinator for DSO's Triathlon event competed in the 2010 Greater Atlantic Multisport Series (GAMS) sponsored by Piranha Sports. Bill earned enough points in 2010 to come in second place overall of all age groups in the GAMS. Read the complete article.

Hugh Horning held a taidragger fly-in of some 12 planes at his place on the Eastern Shore, "Big Oak" in 2011 and is involved in the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame annual Honors Banquet at the University of Delaware. Hugh is the president president of the DAHF.

Read the Vital Magazine article (reprint) regarding this member of DSO and the United Flying Octogenarians.