usdeafsports.org: - Athletes & Coaches

Darius Flowers

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 15.11.2011

Darius Flowers is a Triple Jumper from Springville, Alabama. He is a student-athlete of the Gallaudet University Track and Field team. In May 2011, Flowers placed sixth overall in the 2011 NCAA Divisional III Track and Field championships with a jump of 15.07m breaking his school record and American record. Darius also competed in the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics, placing fourth.

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Janna Vander Meulen

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 25.10.2011

Janna Vander Meulen is a 100m Hurdler and 400m Hurdler from Buckley, Washington. She is a student-athlete of the Western Oregon University Track and Field team and just participated in a recent 2012 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto, Canada. There, she grabbed two gold medals in both hurdles and a bronze in the 4x100m relay. Janna hopes to continue earning more gold medals for the 2013 Summer Deaflympics and improve her personal best times. Janna’s best times in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles are 14.80 and 1:04.53 respectively. The current American record for the 100m hurdles is 14.75 and she is not that far off to erase the record.

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Craig Saalfeld

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 09.03.2011

Craig Saalfeld is an athlete specializing in the decathlon. Saalfeld is also a high jumper and a member of the 4x400m relay runner from David City, Nebraska. His best memory from the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics was walking into the sold-out stadium for the Opening Ceremonies during the parade of the athletes. After the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, Craig moved to Wichita, Kan. for a job, and continued his training for the decathlon. Saalfeld became a track All-American at Emporia State University for his seventh-place finish in Division II. His goal is to win GOLD in the decathlon at the 2012 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto.

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Erin LaFave

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 09.03.2011

Erin LaFave is a 3000m Steeplechase and 5000m runner from Troy, Michigan. Her best memory at the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics was the memory of competing in the games that she will keep for a lifetime. After the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, Erin returned to college at Rochester Institute Technology. Erin is thinking about rejoining the RIT Track & Field team to prepare and win a medal for the next Summer Deaflympics in Hungary and the 2012 World Deaf Athletics Championships.

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Thomas Guidon

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 09.03.2011

Thomas Guidon is a Pole Vaulter from Bothell, Washington. His best memory at the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics was competing and meeting other deaf people, learning about their cultures and making new friends. After the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, Thomas continued his third year at Western Washington University majoring in Communications and a member of the track team. He hopes to stay healthy and consistent with his training to vault over 15 feet at the 2012 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto.

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Michael Saalfeld

From Track & Field, posted by Track & Field NSO | 09.03.2011

Michael Saalfeld is a Mid-Distance runner (400m, 800m) from David City, Nebraska. His best memory at the 2009 Taipei Summer Deaflympics was winning the 800m run and learning about the Taipei Culture. After the 2009 Summer Deaflympics, Michael finished school with a degree in Business Administration, and started a small company. He has been training in his hometown for the goal of winning the 800m and 400m runs and relays for the 2012 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Toronto.

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