Olympians compete in Franklinton

Published 8:36 am Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Franklinton High School hosted the 11th annual Washington Parish Westside Special Olympics Development Day at Franklinton High School’s Demon Stadium.

Participating schools included two-person teams from Enon Elementary, Franklinton Primary, Franklinton High School, Franklinton Junior High, Franklinton Elementary and Mt. Hermon School. Franklinton High School’s Beta Club hosted the event.

Enon Elementary School was represented by Karleigh Rester and Brantley Dyess. Franklinton Primary School athletes were Avery Brumfield and Braylen Jenkins. Franklinton High School olympians were Tyler Ard and Gabriel Jackson.

Mt. Hermon School athletes were Nicholas Taylor and Michaela Morales. Franklinton Junior High School participants were Jorgana Fortenberry and Elizabeth Dunigan. Sebastian Bradford and Lauren Nielson represented Franklinton Elementary School.

Athletes competed for 30 rounds of various competitions. Events included softball toss, tennis ball throw, shot put throw, standing broad jump, 25-meter walk/run, 50-meter walk/run, 25-meter walk/run, 50-meterwalk/run, 100-meter walk/run and 200-meter walk/run.

Entrance of the Olympic torch was by Olympian Max Schilling and Franklinton Police Dept. Det. Justin Brown.

Special guests included Franklinton Mayor Wayne Fleming, Washington Parish School Board Superintendent Darrell Fairburn, Assistant Superintendent Richard Kennedy, Miss Teen U.S.A. Katherine Haik and representatives from Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal’s office.