The 31st Olympiad will begin in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5 when 206 countries will bring more than 10,500 athletes who will compete in 306 events within 42 sporting disciplines utilizing 37 different venues. Rio is the first South American city to host the Olympics and this will be the first Olympics held in a country during their winter season.
It will also be the first Olympics for Voorhees own English Gardner. The 24-year-old sprinter will be competing in the 100m race and in the 4 x 100m relay race.
Gardner was born in Willingboro but was raised in Voorhees and is a 2010 graduate of Eastern Regional High School. She got her sprinting start with the Carl Lewis Track Club when she was only 12 years old and immediately began winning championships
After Gardner tore her knee ligaments two days before Thanksgiving during her junior year at Eastern playing in a charity powder puff football game, most colleges withdrew their scholarship offers. The University of Oregon was one of the few schools that stuck with Gardner. She rehabbed for 13 months and then in February 2010 won the NJSIAA indoor Meet of Champions 55m race. She rewarded Oregon’s faith in her by winning five NCAA titles, including two 100m titles for the Ducks. Garner also captured the 100m at the 2013 U.S. Championships and placed 7th in the 100m at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
On July 3 at the US Olympic Trials, Gardner blazed her way to victory in a historic women’s 100m final with a personal best time of 10.74 seconds. It was the fourth fastest time in women’s U.S. history and the seventh fastest 100m time ever run by a woman.
Good luck in Rio, English!
** On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the Voorhees Town Center presents Take Out and a Movie as part of Teachers Night Out. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be shown on the plaza at 7:30 p.m. on a 20 foot LED screen. Bring chairs, blankets and table wear. The Town Center restaurants will have food specials or bring your own food. There will be drink specials or BYOB. Teachers with ID will enjoy special offers, prizes, happy hour specials and more. Seating and set up starts at 6:30 p.m.
** The third show in our 2016 Summer Twilight Series is on Thursday, Aug. 11 and will feature EagleMania — The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band. The show is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. on the “Great Lawn” at Connolly Park. For more information, visit www.voorheesnj.com.
**A reminder that the deadline to submit applications for this year’s addition to the Voorhees Veterans Wall of Honor is August 31. Information about the Wall and the application may be found on the homepage of our website at www.voorheesnj.com or obtained in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Town Hall.
** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Tickets are available in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Voorhees Town Hall. Prices vary according to the type of ticket and several options are available to residents and non-residents. For more information about tickets visit www.voorheesnj.com.
