Amazing!

Just more evidence that my friends are out in the world doing amazing things!!!

Great Job Emily!!!!

First-time wheelchair racer surprises self with triumph
BY STEPHEN VINCENT • For The Spectrum & Daily News • October 4, 2009

ST. GEORGE — Emily McQueen of Lansing, Mich. traveled 26.2 miles in her wheel­chair for the first time Saturday morning. She surprised even her­self by winning the St. George Marathon — the first wheel­chair participant of either gen­der to cross the finish line with a time of 1:59:04.
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“I am shocked,” she said. “I was looking at my clock and thinking this is wrong. It was like someone was behind me pushing me.”
Nathan Crowton of Orem won the men’s race with a time of 2:07:17.
Neil Harding of Bountiful won the men’s hand cycle race, completing the course in 1:07:47 — six minutes bet­ter than second place Robert Ackerman.
Muffy Davis of Salt Lake City was the top female finisher with a time of 1:35:33.
Jamie Jeppson, the only St. George competitor in either race, finished in 10th in the hand cycle with a time of 3:42:59.
McQueen began racing com­petitively just last year.
She decided to participate in the St. George Marathon when her brother-in-law, who lives in St. George, entered. Her husband also partici­pated in the marathon.
McQueen said she looked forward to telling her spouse about her victory.
“He’s going to say, ‘I’m not surprised,’” she said. “He’s so confident in me.”
McQueen decided to start racing shortly after the birth of her second child.
“I realized I had no com­petitive outlet,” McQueen said. “I was wanting to play Scrabble every night with my husband because I needed to compete in something.”
So she decided to try rac­ing. She started compet­ing in events in her regular wheelchair. With help from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, she purchased a racing chair, making it easier for her to compete in longer events.
“It was my first mara­thon, so I didn’t know what to expect,” McQueen said. “I hadn’t trained on hills like these. Most of my train­ing has been level ground or on inclines. With the cold, I enjoyed going up the hills because it kept me warmer.”
McQueensaidshecouldn’t have picked a better venue for her first marathon, but only because of the win but because of the scenery.
“I’ve never had any­thing like that in front of me,” McQueen said. “It’s an amazing view. After Veyo, the sun was coming up over the mountains, and I felt like I was flying into Heaven.”