Published: September 07, 2008 12:33 am         

Local Roundup 09-07-08

Stillwater resident running to make cures come true

You may have seen Tracy Colmenero, a 27-year-old Stillwater resident, in the evenings or early weekend mornings running along the Boomer Lake trail or on the streets in Stillwater for the past three months.

On Nov. 16, Colmenero will hit the streets of San Antonio, Texas, with more than 26,000 other runners in the San Antonio Rock N’ Roll Marathon.

She will be among the few representing Oklahoma’s Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the LLS Stillwater representative.

The competition marks the fulfillment of a personal goal for the first-time competitor and the undertaking of a greater cause — helping her uncle, memorializing her grandfather and the non-profit that assists people such as them.

“It’s much more than a physical race,” said Colmenero, whose uncle, Marvin, has been undergoing treatments for many years and whose grandfather passed away in May from leukemia.

“There’s much more meaning behind what we are doing.”

Each year, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society trains athletic hopefuls and athletes to participate in marathons, half-marathons, triathlons and 100-mile cycling events.

Participants pay a registration fee and agree to raise money toward funding research.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society exists to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

There are more than 747,000 Americans living with a blood cancer and every 10 minutes, a life is claimed.

“I do not think that there is not one person living that does not know someone who has been affected by cancer,” said Colmenero. “My dad’s mother died from breast cancer, my mom’s mother died from esophagus cancer, and my grandfather from leukemia. It is time to make changes and look at new research.”

Colmenero has teamed up with the Stillwater Rib Crib to raise funds.

On Thursday, individuals can eat at Rib Crib from 5 p.m. to close, and 10 percent of sales will go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in memory of Robert Norsworthy.

Individuals may also donate at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ok/rnrsa08/tcolmenero.



CAC athletes participate in State Championships, All-State banquet

Athletes from Carson Athletic Club in Stillwater completed their season at the 2008 Oklahoma State Championships, held at Dynamo Gymnastics in Oklahoma City. For their performances at State, they were awarded berths on the 2008 All-State team.

In Level Five, Kaitlyn Cinnamon took her second State title in as many years with her 9.425 vault, and also was awarded bronze medals for her 9.725 balance beam and 38.0 all around scores.

Katrina Coca completed a comeback on the beam after a shaky performance at sectionals to win her first State title with a 9.7. She also took silver for 9.475 floor exercise, bronze for 9.275 vault, and was the state runner-up with her 38.0 all around score.

Peyton Fedora was the state runner-up on both beam (9.75) and floor (9.625), and a tie for second pushed her just out of the all-around medals to fourth place with her 37.875. Grace Gudgel placed in the Top Ten for her beam (9.15) and floor (9.25).

Audrey Ruark was awarded Top 10 finishes for her 9.35 uneven bars and 9.425 floor scores, both season-highs. Rachel Wilson took silver medals for her 9.625 beam and 9.475 floor performances. In the team competition, CAC brought home a sixth-place banner.

The Oklahoma All-State banquet rewards those athletes whose performances at the state meet brought a top-three finish in any individual event or an all-around score of 37.0 or higher at the event.

Athletes qualifying for this event from CAC were Level Four competitors Bethany Hatter and Elissa White; Kaitlyn Cinnamon, Katrina Coca, Peyton Fedora in Level Five, and Rachel Wilson; and Ronni Bear, Allie Crawley and Sydney Fedora in Level Seven.

     

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