By Dickie Anderson

Plato said, “The sea cures all ailments of man.”

My middle son and his 6-year-old son recently visited. There is only one thing my youngest grandson wanted to do. Go to the beach, and so we did. I should not have been surprised. Raising three boys, we spent lots of time at beaches in North Carolina and Delaware. The beach never got old.

It had been a while since I had enjoyed a beach day. It brought back memories of my childhood when my family would travel from Chicago to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our simple cottage was right on the ocean, and we spent our days on the edge of the ocean fishing and swimming and just hanging out. We rented the same cottage every year. It was a sad day when we got a call telling us a hurricane had claimed our much-loved cottage.

So the cycle continues. I spread a towel and sat on the beach, wiggling my toes in the sand. Groups of people around me set up their camps with chairs, tents, and coolers. Children of all sizes and shapes gathered at the surf’s edge. Some were building sandcastles, some were jumping in the waves, and mothers were chasing their kids to slather sunscreen on their progeny. My grandson never tired of the ocean and its draw — swimming, riding his boogie board, and making forts with his dad. Who needs Disneyland when you can have a day at the beach?

As I watched all ages enjoying a beautiful Amelia Island day, I noticed a man pushing a wheelchair adapted for the beach to the edge of the surf. I joined the man and his mother and asked about the special chair. I learned that many large oceanside hotels now offer the specialized wheelchairs for their guests’ use. His mother was able to get her feet wet and was clearly comforted by her ability to enjoy the beach.

The chunky-tired chairs have made it possible for families to go to the beach together without leaving a family member with a disability at home.

It turns out Amelia Island is the preferred destination for beach goers with challenges.

Bustling Main Beach Park offers everything — beach volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic shelters, restaurants, restrooms, a skate park and options for the disabled. There is a boardwalk with a Mobi-mat for wheelchair access that extends roughly halfway to the water. The Atlantic Recreation Center has free beach wheelchairs and one Mobi-chair — which can float in water — that can be rented. A deposit is required and equipment can only be used at city beach accesses.

Much is said about the healing qualities of the ocean. Visiting the beach always leaves me feeling alive and refreshed physically and emotionally. My time out at the beach with son and grandson has triggered a pull to the beach. This writer can’t take the computer to the beach — that is a good thing.

Dickie Anderson welcomes your questions and/or comments: dickie.anderson@gmail.com

After two years of being sidelined by floods, the Gregory River Canoe Marathon surged back to life in 2025 for its 50th running – and what a golden celebration it was!  From breathtaking finishes to heartfelt tributes, this milestone year proved the Gregory spirit is not only alive – it’s unstoppable.

The much-loved Dinner in the River once again signalled the official start of the Gregory River Canoe Marathon weekend and for the 50th event, it was more meaningful than ever.  What began as a casual river side feed has grown into a cornerstone of the Gregory tradition – where the Gregory family, volunteers and sponsors gather in the river to share a hearty meal of roast meats and veges – cooked on 15+  camp ovens by river legends Al and Tav Cameron.   With over 180 people soaking up the atmosphere, it was the perfect way to launch a weekend of racing, remembering and reconnecting.  The river brings the competition, but the dinner brings everyone together. 

This year’s race wasn’t all about competition – it was a tribute to river legends. The children of Ron Snow, a legendary paddler and master boat builder, returned to paddle in his memory, scattering his ashes at the finish line. Adding to the legacy was the return of the very first winner, Dave Ferguson, King of the River, who was on hand to celebrate how far the event and the river community has come. Karen Devlin, who still holds a junior record, also returned with her family and to enjoy the river as an adult .

The Van Ryt family continued its dominance at the event and a special highlight was seeing 91 year old Rita Van Ryt entering the boat for the last 100m. The Van Ryt family has now paddled the Gregory a combined 150+ times, carrying a tradition of family like no other.

With the river running high and fast, it was a course that tested even the most seasoned paddlers. The main race delivered high drama and heart pounding suspense as Chris Barnes and Gregory veteran Steve Jenje went head-to-head – sort of. With a 10 minute staggered start, Chris hit the water first, paddling hard and setting a blistering pace. But the true tension came at the finish line, where spectators and timekeepers watched the clock, waiting to see if Steve could close the gap. In the end, it was Chris Barnes who claimed victory – just 41 second ahead of Steve.

The Canadian Challenge was a standout again, with teams between 4 and 8 racing for line honours. The Van Ryt’s took home the category win, but it was Team Nunya who paddled away with the much-coveted random draw prize of a full Gregory branded esky.

This year also saw a momentous changing of the guard, as the 2005 record held by Dick Jenje, affectionately known as Old Man River, was beaten by Jeff Stuart. Whilst the torch has now passed, the name Dick Jenje remains etched in Gregory lore.

The short race brought out a fantastic mix of local teams, visiting paddlers and first timers, all eager to be part of the Gregory action. While Mark Sanderson took the win with a strong solo effort, many raced just for the fun and the chance at random prize giveaways from generous sponsors.

Fifty years of races, rivalries and river stories – what a legacy. This isn’t just a race, it’ a tradition that connects generations and celebrates the rugged, joyful heart of the outback.

The amazing businesses, volunteers and committee members who made the 50th Gregory River Canoe Marathon unforgettable – thank you. You’ve kept the flame alive – and it’s burning brighter than ever.

Click here to read the Paddle QLD event report. 

NORMAN – The No. 14/18 Oklahoma track and field team resumes the postseason Wednesday at the NCAA West First Rounds held by Texas A&M at the E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas. Thirty-five Sooners will compete in a school-record 43 entries from May 28-31 for a chance to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Men’s events are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday, while women’s events are set for Thursday and Saturday. Events begin at 10 a.m. CT on Wednesday and Thursday and at 1 p.m. CT on Friday and Saturday.
 

The top 12 athletes from each individual event advance from the east and west regions to the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships held Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
 
Eleven Sooners qualified for last year’s final site, including returners Olivia Lueking (pole vault), Tuane Silver (shot put), BJ Green (triple jump), Anthony Riley (long jump) and Kyren Washington (high jump). Combined event athlete Pippi Lotta Enok automatically qualifies for the championships with her No. 2-ranking in the nation in the heptathlon.
 
Live results of the NCAA West First Rounds can be found via Flash Results. A broadcast of the meet will air on ESPN+ on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

 
 

ABOUT 2025
NEW CONFERENCE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The Sooners enter their first season in the SEC, a league known for track & field dominance. At the SEC Indoor Championships Feb. 27 – March 1, Pippi Lotta Enok (pentathlon), Kyren Washington (high jump), Jasmine Akins (long jump) and Olivia Lueking (pole vault) earned Oklahoma’s first conference indoor titles in program history.

 

At the outdoor championship, Agur Dwol (triple jump), Olivia Lueking (pole vault), BJ Green (triple jump) and Ralford Mullings (discus) secured the first league titles.  

 

WORLDWIDE PHENOM

Pippi Lotta Enok’s title-winning performance in the pentathlon at the SEC Indoor Championships on Feb. 27 goes beyond the scope of the conference, with her career-best 4,593 points shattering Estonia’s, her native country, national record and moving her to No. 5 all-time in NCAA history.

Enok carried her success to the outdoor stage, collecting a school record in the heptathlon (6,258 points) at Mt. SAC Relays April 17 for the best finish by a collegian. Her score ranks fourth in the world and second in the NCAA this season, and also ranks 11th all-time in NCAA collegiate history.

 

LEAPS AND BOUNDS

Junior Agur Dwol was crowned national champion in the triple jump on March 15 at the NCAA Indoor Championships, becoming Oklahoma’s first TJ title winner in program history. She joins an elite group of six Oklahoma women to win a championship on the NCAA indoor stage.

 

Dwol kicked off her outdoor season with an impressive 14.01m (45’11.75″) wind-legal mark to win the triple jump at Texas Relays March 26. Her leap leads the nation and ranks 17th in the world in 2025.

 

PRIMED IN PARIS

Ralford Mullings suites up for Oklahoma after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics where he placed ninth in the discus throw. The Kingston, Jamaica, native has already made a global impact this outdoor season as a Sooner.

 

At Texas Relays on March 29, Mullings tossed the No. 12 mark in the world and the No. 2 measure in the NCAA at 69.13m (226’10.00″) to win the event. He shattered the Oklahoma program record, Texas Relays record and Mike A. Myers Stadium record. With this throw, Mullings is the No. 2-ranked performer in NCAA history and his toss is the seventh-best ever recorded in NCAA collegiate history.

 

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

At the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships March 14-15, the Oklahoma women earned their best finish (4th) at the national meet in program history and the men their best (12th) since 2005. Both teams secured the highest point count in school history and posted a combined program-record nine First Team All-America finishes.

 

SETTLED IN

Head Coach James Thomas enters his second season at the helm of Oklahoma Track & Field. Under his guidance, the Sooners just wrapped up a historic indoor season. Between the men’s and women’s team, OU collected one national title, 11 All-America awards, four conference champions, six conference medalists, 12 school records and 62 top-10 performances in OU history. Thomas was named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year for his leadership during the indoor season.

 

FOLLOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS

For updates on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.

Naperville North boys water polo team wins state

Naperville North boys water polo won the IHSA state championship for the first time in program history on Saturday night. The Huskies trailed New Trier 6-2 at halftime, but the defense shut out the Trevians in the second half to win the 2025 state title by the score of 7-6.

The Naperville North girls water polo team brought home the third-place trophy. The Huskies sent retiring head coach Andy McWhirter out a winner in his final game with a 12-9 victory over York in the third-place matchup.

Naperville Park Board approves deals to prepare for possible indoor space referendum

Two consultants will help the Naperville Park District prepare for a possible bond referendum to generate funds for new indoor recreation space under contracts the park board approved at its most recent meeting.

The board approved spending a total of $129,000 on planning, public engagement, and architectural services to prepare for a potential ballot question related to funding a new indoor facility. 

Find out what prompted their decision.

Neuqua Valley instructor named Health Education Teacher of the Year

Neuqua Valley High School teacher Laura Walan was recently named as the 2025 Health Education Teacher of the Year.

She was awarded the honor by the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Read more about what earned her this recognition.

District 203 continues budget review

Naperville School District 203 officials continue to review the proposed 2025-26 school year budget, with a targeted adoption date of June 16 in mind.

Administrators first unveiled the budget proposal in early May, and several workshops are on the docket before a public hearing and potential adoption next month.

Learn more about the budget proposal, and the review processes that have been taking place.

Granger Middle School student competing in Scripps National Spelling Bee

Shruthi Ayyagari, a seventh-grader at Granger Middle School is one of 243 students taking part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Find out more about how she earned her spot in the competition, which kicks off today.

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois Track and Field will head to the NCAA West Preliminary round on Wednesday, May 28 in College Station, Tex. The men will compete on Wednesday and Friday, and the women will compete on Thursday and Saturday.

The Salukis will send nine athletes to the first round: Darrione Williams, Andre Jackson II, Leah Thames, Teanna Bell, Shane Ashton, Trinity Cleaver, KeyAnn Wilson, Xavier Preston, and Josh Delgado.

RELAYS

The women’s 4×100 relay team, made up of Leah Thames, Teanna Bell, KeyAnn Wilson, and Trinity Cleaver will compete on Saturday, May 31, at 5 p.m. They won the event at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships with a time of 44.62 seconds.

The men’s 4×400 Relay team, made up of Shane Ashton, Xavier Preston, Josh Delgado, and Andre Jackson II will compete on Friday, May 30, at 8:45 p.m. They won the event at the MVC Championship with a time of 3:06.17.

JUMPS

Darrione Williams will compete in the long jump starting on Wednesday, May 28, at 4:30 p.m. Williams is coming off a stellar weekend at the MVC Championship, where he won the gold medal in the long jump with a jump of 7.55M and the silver medal in the triple jump with a jump of 14.94 meters.

INDIVIDUAL TRACK EVENTS

Leah Thames will pull triple duty this week, competing in the 4×100 relay, as well as the 200M and 400M dashes. Thames dominated at the MVC Championship, claiming four gold medals and the MVC Most Valuable Female Athlete. She set personal best times in the 200M dash (23.38 seconds), and the 400M dash (53.04 Seconds). The 200M dash will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 8:45 p.m.

Teanna Bell will join Thames in the 400M dash. Bell claimed second in the 400M dash at the MVC Championship; she was on the heels of Thames the entire race, finishing with a personal best time of 53.15 seconds. The first round of the 400M dash is on Thursday, May 29 at 7:25 p.m.

Andre Jackson II will look to continue a strong freshman campaign, racing in the 400M dash. Jackson has only gotten faster with every race and will look to continue that trend on Wednesday at 7:25 p.m. At the MVC Championship, he took home the first-place finish with a time of 45.75 seconds, this time set an MVC Record, Facility Record, and a personal best mark in the event.

Shane Ashton will compete in the 400M Hurdles on Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. Ashton defended his crown at the MVC Championship, winning the event with a time of 50.54 seconds.

Follow along with Live Results.

The NCAA West First Round Championship Central page can be found here.

The NCAA West Preliminary Round will be streamed live on ESPN+, and each day can be found below.

 

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS

For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).

PRINCETON, N.J. – Preparing to compete in 14 events, the Princeton men’s track and field team will head to Jacksonville, Fla. for the NCAA East First Round to be held Wednesday, May 28th through Saturday, May 31st. 

16 Tigers were individually selected to compete in 13 events, with Princeton sending a squad for the 4×400 relay as well. 

The selections continue an impressive year for Princeton, as the Tigers won the Ivy Outdoor Heptagonal Championship to complete their second-consecutive and 12th all-time Triple Crown earlier this month. 

At Outdoor Heps, Princeton boasted five individual championships as Greg Foster won the long jump and the 110 hurdles, while Jackson Clarke won the 200, Harrison Witt won the 1500, and Casey Helm won the discus. 

Just this season, the Tigers have rewritten the school record books, setting new records in six events while making the top-10 leaderboards with 22 other performances. 

A pair of Tigers qualified for regionals with top-5 marks. Foster ranks first on the NCAA East Qualifying List and third nationally in the long jump with a mark of 8.10m/26-7″ from the Virginia Challenge on April 18. Helm ranks third regionally in the discus after throwing 63.37m/207′ 11″ at the Penn Relays for a new program record. His mark puts him at seventh in the nation. 

Witt, a 2025 Second Team All-American in the indoor mile, ranks 12th in the East and 22nd in the country in the 1500m after running 3:37.22 at the Larry Ellis Invitational. His time set a new program record. 

Seb Clatworthy also ranks 12th regionally in the high jump after clearing 2.16m/7′ 1″ at Outdoor Heps, while Joe Licata ranks 12th in the shot put with a throw of 19.24m/63′ 1.5″ at Penn Relays.

Rounding out the Tigers in the region’s top 20, Jackson Shorten comes in at 13th in the 3000m steeplechase. Sam Rodman’s school record-breaking 800m performance of 1:46.85 put him at 14th in the region. 

First-year distance phenom Jacob Nenow ranks 19th in the 10000m after running 28:23.60 at the Sam Howell Invitational, breaking Princeton’s record in his first collegiate competition in the event.

After a dominant outdoor season, the Tigers head to Jacksonville ready to compete for punched tickets to the NCAA finals in Eugene, Ore. next month.

Full list of Tigers competing at the NCAA East First Round:

100m: Jadon Spain

200m: Jackson Clarke

400m: Joey Gant

800m: Samuel Rodman

1500m: Harrison Witt, Connor McCormick

5000m: Myles Hogan

10000m: Jacob Nenow, Nicholas Bendtsen

400mH: Chris Paige

4×400 Relay 

High Jump: Seb Clatworthy

Long Jump: Greg Foster (#1 seed, 8.10m)

Shot Put: Joe Licata

Discus: Casey Helm, Avery Shunneson

Hammer: Asher Robbins