Hawkes to race in Beijing
Ten months ago, she was competing at the Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Sabra Hawkes had never been to the competition, and she was nervous. But the Rockport High graduate knew that if her personal best held up, she'd have a chance to do some damage in the 100- and 200- meter races.
By the time she left Brazil, she had a gold medal, and it came easier than she thought.
This summer, she's chasing more neckwear.
After winning the 100 and taking second in the 200 last week at the Paralympic Team Trials at Arizona State University, Hawkes set herself up for another late-summer road trip, this time to Beijing for the Paralympic Games, which runs from Sept. 6-17.
It's a dream she said she had been waiting four years to come true.
"It's finally a reality," she said. "I don't have to just dream about it anymore."
Hawkes is already at the US Olympic Training Center in San Diego, prepping for her chance at a gold medal.
Hawkes, heading into her junior year at Keene State College in New Hampshire this fall, was born with a mild case of cerebral palsy that's only noticeable when she gets down in her three-point stance to start a race.
She started running as a sophomore at Rockport High, with the encouragement of her parents, Brett and Pamela Hawkes. Since then she's competed internationally at the CP World Championships in Connecticut and the Para-World Championships in Holland, as well as last summer's Parapan American Games in Brazil.
Hawkes will be in the company of more than 4,000 of the world's top athletes when she travels to Beijing. More than 200 paralympians will represent the United States, competing in 18 different sports.
Hawkes is still overwhelmed knowing that she will be one of the competitors.
"Running at this level is such a blessing to me because I get to wake up every day and do what I love to do," Hawkes said. "The drive comes from knowing that running makes me happy, and having the ability to compete with the best in the world is a gift."
Sharing baseball gear
After manning the gates at Fenway Park last weekend for the Red Sox series against the Cardinals collecting donations of new and used equipment, Kids Gear for Baseball will be handing out the equipment to youth organizations in need tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Extra Innings training facility on Route 114 in Middleton.
The program, led by Lynnfield resident Jim Chisholm and his two daughters, Kelsey and Kaitlyn, and run by student volunteers, has helped provide gloves, bats, helmets, and other equipment for organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley, as well as clubs in Lawrence, Woburn and Worcester, the Murphy School in Dorchester, Kids with Disabilities in Sports, and Cross Roads for Kids.
For information about the program, e-mail kidsgearforbaseball@yahoo.com or call 781-334-3464.
Peabody boxer on Castle card
Simeon Dunwell was last seen at the Roxy in mid-April, battling the flu while at the same time fighting off 139-pound junior welterweight Damon Antoine to pick up a unanimous decision and stretch his undefeated streak to seven wins.
After having his hand raised, the exhausted Peabody native had to be carried out of the ring. With a little more than a month to recover, the quick-fisted Dunwell (7-0, 2 KOs) is slated for an undercard bout with Aaron Drake (13-6, 9 KOs) Saturday night at the "Hassle in the Castle," in the Castle at Park Plaza on Arlington Street in Boston.
Dunwell's opponent is trying to bounce back after losing two of his last three fights and three of his last five going back to a technical knockout in Florida early last year. After knocking out his first two opponents, Dunwell strung together five straight unanimous decisions. Doors open Saturday at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, visit the promoter's website, irishropes.com.
