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The 2024 Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) Summer Games concluded June 2 in the Raleigh area, ending a weekend of competition for more than 1,500 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners, individuals without intellectual disabilities, from across the state competing in athletics, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, swimming and volleyball. As SONC’s largest state-level competition, athletes competed at various venues in Raleigh, Cary and Holly Springs.

To ensure fair competition, the athletes were placed in competition divisions based on age, gender and ability level. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each division, followed by fourth through eighth-place ribbons.

Athletes from Stanly included:

• Jamie Lee Hathcock, 50m Dash, Gold Medal; Softball Throw, Gold Medal; Standing Long Jump, Silver Medal;

• Patricia Danielle Jones, 100m Dash, Silver Medal; 200m Dash, Silver Medal; Running Long Jump, Silver Medal

• Dylan Lee Manus, 100m Dash, Gold Medal; 200m Dash, Gold Medal; Running Long Jump, Gold Medal;

• Samuel Dale Poplin, 25m Dash, Gold Medal; 50m Walk, Gold Medal; Softball Throw, Gold Medal; and

• Elliot Schmehl, 100m Dash, Silver Medal; 200m Dash, Silver Medal; Running Long Jump, Silver Medal.