Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Christophe Paul | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smith, Little Rock, Ark., has someone pour water on...... read more read more
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By John M. Rosenberg
Warrior Transition Command
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – It was over 100 degrees, adjusted for heat index, when track events began at Butler Stadium late afternoon Tuesday. Army, a traditional power in track, had high expectations going into the events during the fifth day of competition in the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games.
Among the many athletes striving for medals, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smith of Little Rock, Arkansas, participating in his second DOD Warrior Games, felt upbeat about his chances in track. This, despite the fact that he was contending only two days removed from the demands of the cycling competition.
Before the onset of severe weather brought a halt to the contest, Smith had accumulated at least one medal; a silver.
Army’s first victory of the evening came in the Women’s 100-meter wheelchair event in which Capt. Kelly Elmlinger, medical surgical nurse from San Antonio, came out on top.
Cpl. Jasmine Perry, participating in a host of categories, won gold in the Women’s 100-meter dash. Receiving honorary mention in the dash is a contestant from Team British Armed Forces, Susan Warner, senior Royal Navy nursing officer and torch bearer for the team at the opening ceremonies. Warner, who had only recently regained her ability to walk, came down the track in determined fashion, surrounded by a throng of cheering well-wishers, including Perry who exclaimed that the Belfast, United Kingdom resident “did a great job” in pushing herself to compete.
Birmingham, Alabama native Sgt. Zedrik Pitts finished well ahead of the pack in the Men’s 100-meter dash 5.0, while Spc. Haywood Range of San Antonio secured third place.
There were several highly dominant performances by Army on this day, including one by Staff Sgt. Randi Gavell in the Women’s 100-meter dash 6.0. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, veteran had no one over her shoulder at the finish line. Gavell, a military policewoman, called the day’s event “fun,” saying “We’re here to heal, and having fun is an important aspect of the healing process.”
Other prevailing performances include Elmlinger in the Women’s 800-meter 4.0, in which the active duty nurse led at one point by nearly 200-meters. Intelligence analyst Sgt. 1st Class Katie Kuiper, of San Antonio, won gold handily in the Women’s 800-meter 4.0 category.
Organizers and athletes were prepared for the heat and humidity of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., but a line of storms eventually brought a halt to the day’s competition. Gavell said the heat index doesn’t help when running track, though the athletes are all “fierce competitors” who push themselves to succeed despite the conditions.
Rodney Carson, Team Army head track coach said that safety is the number one priority on days where competition is held under such trying conditions. Carson made sure that his athletes remained hydrated throughout and took advantage of the cool zones set up around the stadium, including air conditioned vans and water misters.
Carson also stressed that these competitors are members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Special Operations, and British armed forces. “The weather is going to be what it is,” said Carson. “These athletes are trained to improvise, adapt and overcome.”
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.28.2015 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 168423 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Hometown: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US |
| Hometown: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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