QUANTICO, Va. (Army News Service, June 26, 2015) -- Army men and women brought home more than two dozen medals in field events during the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games here, June 23.
The Army swept the men's discus throw standing 1.0, with Spc. Anthony Atemon in first with 39.09 meters; Cpl. Matthew Mueller in second with 20.39 meters; and veteran Staff Sgt. Sean Johnson placing third with 18.33 meters.
The same trio dominated the men shot put standing 1.0, with Atemon in first with 11.42 meters, followed by Mueller with 6.89 meters, then Johnson in third with 6.71 meters.
GOLD FOR ARMY WOMEN
It was double gold for retired Sgt. Monica Southall, who took home wins in women's discus throw standing 5.0 with 33.69 meters, and women's shot put standing 5.0 with 11.93 meters.
Southall had been active all through high school and college. Adaptive sports have helped her, she said, following her injuries from a fall from a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle.
"It's an honor to be competing here at the Warrior Games. I remember one time I wasn't able to hardly stand or walk, so to be able to do both and not only that but compete at a high level again is very exciting to me," she said.
She said she is usually nervous on competition day.
"I know once I get out there and I start throwing and I start competing, everything goes away and I'm just happy, just so filled with joy that I am able to do this again," she said.
Her advice to other wounded, ill or injured service members, "Give adaptive sports a try, if nothing else, it's something to get you motivated, get you active again and get you going again."
Southall was in great company with other Army women who brought home gold.
Spc. Sydney Davis earned two gold medals, one for her women's discus throw standing 6.0 of 32.93 meters, and the other for her women's shot put standing 6.0 of 10.97 meters.
Cpl. Jasmine Perry was a dual gold medal winner as well, bringing home the first place prize for her women's discus throw standing 4.0 of 22.77 meters, and women's shot put standing 4.0 for 9.69 meters.
For the women's discus throw seated 6.0, Spc. Chasity Kuczer placed first with 18.18 meters; she was first in the women's shot put seated 6.0 with 7.31 meters.
ARMY MEN WIN TOP PRIZE
In the men's discus throw standing 6.0, Sgt. Colten Harms placed first with 43.26; he placed first in the men's shot put standing 6.0 with 14.61 meters.
Robert Green was first in the men's discus throw seated 6.0, with 31.42 meters, and first in men's shot put seated 6.0 with 9.17 meters.
SILVER MEDALS
For the men's discus throw seated 5.0, Sgt. Patrick Timmins placed second with 31.50 meters; he also took second in the men's shot put seated 5.0 with 10.03 meters.
In the men's discus throw standing 6.0, retired Sgt. Sean Hook took second with 38.98; he was second in men's shot put standing 6.0 with 13.59 meters.
Hook said he enjoyed the competition as well as the camaraderie among the services.
"We all realize that we're all different but the same in sorts. It's a good time. It's helped me through my journey. It's exciting to be here again," he said.
Hook, who said he has great support from his family and the Army, said a lot of athletes have the outlook of focusing on their ability - not a disability. "It's the new you. You learn how to deal with it."
Also bringing home silver was veteran Spc. Haywood Range, who finished second in men's shot put standing 5.0 with 11.77 meters; he was third in men's discus throw standing 5.0 with 32.02 meters.
For the women, Staff Sgt. Ashley Anderson was second in women's shot put standing 6.0 with 10.58 meters; she was fourth in the women's discus throw standing 6.0 for her toss of 22.83 meters.
Staff Sgt. Monica Martinez was second in the women's shot put seated 6.0 with 6.64 meters, she also took home bronze for the women's discus throw seated 6.0 for her throw of 14.12 meters.
OTHER RESULTS:
1st Lt. Christopher Parks placed 4th in men's discus seated, 4.0, with 24.09 meters. He placed fourth in men's shot put seated 4.0 with 8.09 meters.
Other fourth place wins included Sgt. Blake Johnson for the men's discus throw seated 6.0 with 25.5 meters and the men's shot put seated 6.0 with 8.34 meters.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smith was fourth in men's shot put standing 5.0 with 8.59 meters. Smith was sixth in the men's discus throw standing 5.0 with 27.17 meters.
Smith, who lost his right arm in 2011 a hit-and-run, was the first above-the-elbow amputee to be found fit for duty to continue active duty service. He is a recruiting center commander in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Warrior Games go far beyond competition, Smith said.
"At the end of the day, it's about assisting and helping other athletes get over their injury," he said. Adaptive sports and surrounding himself with good and positive people have helped him tremendously in his transition, he said.
Staff Sgt. Alexander Shaw took fifth in the men's discus throw seated 5.0, and came in seventh in the men's shot put seated 5.0 with 7.22 meters.
Sgt. Anthony Villalobos was fifth in the men's shot put seated 5.0 with 8.21 meters; he was seventh in the men's discus throw seated 5.0 with 22.85 meters.
For the women's shot put seated 6.0, veteran Spc. Laurel Cox was sixth with 5.40 meters.
For the men's discus throw seated 5.0 CW3 Timothy Sifuentes was eighth with 22.51 meters; he took ninth in the men shot put seated 5.0 with 6.92 meters.
For the men's discus throw standing 5.0, veteran Staff Sgt. Andrew McCaffrey was 10th with 17.96 meters; he placed ninth in men shot put standing 5.0 with 6.96 meters.
For the men's shot put seated 5.0, Doug Hill was 11th with 6.69 meters.
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