Local Special Olympians get ready for today's games

For Jeff Carlson and Justin Konesky Wednesday is one of the high points of their year.

They are two of more than 20 Special Olympians who will take part in activities Wednesday at Havre Middle School.

They both will compete in a variety of events, including running and throwing events as well as bowling.

Both are proud of their athletic prowess and look forward to success Wednesday. If they do well, it will be off to Missoula for the state championship games at the University of Missoula.

That pleases Jeff, a fan of the UM Grizzlies. He comes from a family of a mixed marriage. His dad is a Griz fan, mom graduated from Montana State University.

The athletes also play golf, which pleases Jeff, who hopes to model himself after Phil Mickelson.

“I like it because it gives us muscles,” said Justin of the Special Olympics.

The Havre athletes will be joined by competitors from North Star and Chinook for Wednesday’s activities.

Justin said he will start the day at about 8:30 a.m. when he begins warming up.

At about 9 a.m., the activities will be opened with a parade of athletes around the track.

The track and field events will be in the morning, Jeff said.

He said he and the other athletes will compete with vigor, but “we are all a team.”

The athletes cheer each other on, he said.

After every event the volunteers and the other athletes give each other high-fives to celebrate.

After lunch, the bowling competition will start at Hi Line Lanes.

This is a high point of the day for Justin.

“Once I bowled 160,” he said.

Then, trophies are presented, and there is a general feeling of good will, Special Olympics organizer Mandy Hanson said.

The athletes can relax at a dance held after the awards ceremony.

Once the big day is over, the athletes look forward to the state championship games, they said.

That event is always a communitywide activity, Hanson said.

The Havre High School Key Club always has a sendoff for the athletes as they get on the bus to Missoula, and when they return, Hanson said, the Havre police greet them at the city line and give them a police escort back home.

The athletes and organizers hope the community will come out Wednesday and cheer them on.

“Everybody will enjoy it,” said Hanson.