Athletes feast on watermelon, Popsicles and medals at Special Olympics

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ORONO – Bill Brazier came to the finish line of the 200-meter run, arms raised a big smile.

You see a lot of that at the Maine Special Olympics and Saturday was no different at the University of Maine’s Beckett Family Track. At these games smiles, hand shakes and hugs abound.

Brazier had finished second in the race.

“I turned around and looked behind and my friend passed me,” he said.

And his friend’s win was OK with him. Brazier’s smile was more about just finishing the race than his place in the standings. On Friday, the 19-year-old from Portland had been knocked for a loop by heat exhaustion.

“I got sick but I’m doing better now,” he said.

Better, yes. But there was little change in the conditions. The heat was still oppressive on Saturday and those on hand were constantly reminded to drink water, water and more water.

How much water do 1,300 athletes plus family, plus coaches, plus friends drink?

A lot.

“We’ve had a lot of heat-related problems. We went through 900 gallons of water yesterday,” Sharron Doughty of the Levant Volunteer Rescue Squad said at the medical tent. “We’ve transported two or three, I believe, to the hospital with heat-related emergencies.”

She said the breeze that was blowing throughout the day on Saturday was misleading.

“They’re more aware of the water that’s available and I think that helps. But I think the humidity is still just as bad,” Doughty said. “We’re going through just as much water.”

And ice. Doughty pointed to an ice merchandiser like those found outside convenience stores and said it had been filled and emptied twice on Friday. By 1 p.m. Saturday it already had been filled and emptied twice.

And people were finding other ways to keep cool as well. Hand held, battery-powered fans were popular. As was Steve Lewis of Albion.

Lewis, a 26-year veteran volunteer of the games, spent Saturday driving a golf cart from the starting line to the finish line of the 200-meter race carrying sheets with the racers’ information.

“We figure we’ll make about 800 trips during the day,” he said.

Along the way though Lewis spread some cheer. Stacked up in the back of the cart were boxes and boxes of Popsicles and he happily handed out the cold treats.

“Sometimes you get to do some fun things to keep people in the mood,” he said.

Definitely in the mood was Howard Duchesneau of Warren who crossed the finish line in the 500-meter dash, fists clenched and raised above his head.

“This is my second gold medal today, buddy,” he said. “I had my hands up because I was a champion. And I got a bronze medal for the shot put.”

Matt Sawyer of Brewer kept cool between events by taking a much deserved watermelon snack break.

“I’ve done running, long jump and softball throw. I threw it pretty far. And I came in fourth place,” the 13-year-old said.

Also happy with his result was 11-year-old Mark Rieke of Orono who won a gold medal in the softball toss with a toss of around 20 feet, although a friend of his insisted, “it was more like 21.”

“It felt good. This is good. It gives you exercise,” Rieke said.

Saturday was also a day for a heavy law enforcement presence. Members of a number of police departments, sheriff’s departments and the Maine Warden Service were on hand to present medals to the athletes.

Sgt. Joey Seeley of the Presque Isle Police Department and several of his colleagues were able to give the athletes a little something extra thanks to State Farm Insurance. The company had provided the games with Polaroid cameras and film. Seeley and friends were able to take individual photos of the winners receiving their medals and give them the photos as mementos.

“The kids really love the pictures because it gives them something from here to take home with them,” Seeley, who was at the games for the ninth year. “This is a good time and you have a lot of fun and it’s worthwhile.”

Moments later, a shy young athlete approached Seeley with a request. Seeley agreed and he turned over the camera to one of his colleagues who took a picture of Seeley and the young girl. Seeley was rewarded with a hug.

And then there was Steve Cote, 15, of Jay. He is a runner who moves easily, almost effortlessly around the track in the 200-meter run.

As he approached the finish line, he noticed a runner to his right was about to pass him and he turned on the speed. It was very close at the finish. He and the other runner slapped each other on the back and Cote knelt down on the track to catch his breath, a smile on his face. In fact, it is almost as if Cote has a perpetual smile. Throughout the remainder of the day, he could be seen on a walkabout at the games, taking it all in. The smile firmly in place.

“I just run as fast as I can,” he said at the finish line of the 200-meter run. “I run anyway that I can to run fast.”

He was unsure as to how the race turned out.

“I don’t know. I think I might have came in second. I’m pretty much happy with that. It’s not about winning. It’s about having fun,” Cote said.

On the podium Cote smiled and talked with the runner standing next to him. For the record Steve Cote finished first. But that doesn’t really matter. Does it.