Shelbyville Special Olympians cashed in at the Eastern Illinois University Meet on April 25, with eight of the eleven athletes stockpiling more than a dozen first place medals.

The Shelby athletes competed in 23 events and scored 13 gold medals, six silver medals and one bronze.

Eric Fulton had “the best day ever”, going a perfect 3-for-3. Fulton took first place in the soft ball throw (58m), 1st in the 200 meter dash and was part of the winning co-ed 4x100 meter relay team.

Alicia Pizzo and Whitney Fulton scored two firsts and a second, each. Pizzo and Fulton were members of the winning 4x100 relay. Pizzo also took first in the quarter and second in the running long jump. Fulton scored first in the softball throw and second in the 100 meter dash.

Ricci Smith was the other member of the winning 4x1 relay. Smith added a second place finish in the running long jump and a fourth place finish in the 50 meter dash.

Three other Shelby athletes captured gold. Cain Lawrence won double-gold, one in the tennis ball throw and the other in the 25-meter wheelchair race. Cody Wheeler scored a first in the 50-meter assisted tennis ball throw. Bre Thomas also scored first in the 50m assisted tennis ball throw.

The other Shelby gold came in the softball throw, as Chelsey Johnston took first. Johnston also captured a second place finish in the 50m dash. Silver also came back to Shelby through the efforts of three other purple-clad Olympians .

Jared Lochbaum brought home a silver medal, Mike Williams took silver in the softball throw. Cruzita Amill also took second in the softball throw. In addition, Amill brought home bronze in the 50 meter dash and Williams sixth.