Editor’s note: These updates are from the athletes’ coach Leonard Woodson and/or posts on the 2022 Special Olympics website. The latest is always at the top of the page.
Friday, June 10:
- The Illinois flag football team beat Maryland 25-20 to win a gold medal. Big congratulations to Alex Anderson, Grayson Deeney and Riley Hoffman.
Thursday, June 9:
- Illinois’ flag football team beat Kentucky 25-13 and advanced to the final round, playing for the gold or silver medal Friday.
- Caroline Colianne came in second place in the 800-meter run.
- Kirk Nelson received a bronze medal in the benchpress, a bronze medal in the deadlift, a silver medal in squat lift, a silver medal in combined – total weight of squat, bench and deadlift.
Wednesday, June 8:
- Caroline Colianne took fifth place in her 1,500-meter run and received her award today.
- The flag football team got back on the winning track with yet another nail biting game against Pennsylvania. Illinois won 19-18. (Penn scored in the final minute but missed the extra point).
Tuesday, June 7:
- Illinois’ flag football team lost to Tennessee in a nail biting 13-14 game, which called for overtime.
- This screenshot (below) of a live broadcast of the 2022 Special Olympics shows Evanston athlete Caroline Colianne lining up for her morning heat in the finals of the 1,500-meter run at this year’s national competition in Orlando, Florida.
Monday, June 6: Caroline had preliminaries in the 1,500 meter run, 800 meter run and shot put.
Alex, Grayson, and Riley had their first flag football game in pool play against a team from Iowa. Team Illinois won by a large margin 47-6 (coach tried hard to keep it from being a blowout). Kirk had weigh-ins today for powerlifting, but we don’t know yet when he will be competing.
Coming up: Look for Caroline tomorrow 7:40 a.m. CST the finals for her 1,500 meter run. In flag football, Team Illinois plays Team Tennessee around 10 a.m. CST.
Sunday, June 5: A hot day with the temperature feeling like it was 95F during the Opening Ceremonies.