Photo by Janelle Patterson Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Zide and K9 Rita run alongside Travis Rankin carrying the torch for the Ohio Special Olympics through Marietta Wednesday.

MARIETTA — New faces and returners made sure to hold the Ohio Special Olympics torch as it traveled through Marietta Wednesday.

“We have 22 competing this year, two new athletes are joining us,” said Coach Rachelle Flesher as the run kicked off from Kroger to Don Drumm Stadium in the morning heat.

The torch run is an annual event that draws law enforcement from behind the administrative desks, dispatch phones, corrections bars and road patrols for a leg of the torch carry, always bringing smiles and photos with those in uniform for the athletes.

Jeremiah and Travis Rankin, of Waterford, got to run with Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Chesar, Marietta Police Capt. Aaron Nedeff and Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Zide and K-9 Rita for their first leg of the weekend, telling the officers about the events they’ll be competing in.

“I wanted to improve my running ability,” said Travis, 16, as he jogged ahead of Chesar and Jeremiah on the Marietta College track. “And I wanted to run with the police because my cousin Wesley is in a police department.

Photo by Janelle Patterson Marietta Cpt. Aaron Nedeff runs with Jeremiah Rankin during the torch run for the Ohio Special Olympics in Marietta Wednesday.

“Ready bub?” asked Jeremiah, 18, as the pair made it around the final bend in the track.

“OK, yeah bub,” replied Travis as the two high-fived.

The brothers are the two newest addition to the team out of Washington County headed to Columbus this weekend.

Megan Bronksi, 43, of Marietta, is happy to be back competing with that team after taking a year off for surgery last year.

“I’m competing in the 400-meter dash, the mini-javelin and the 4×100 relay,” she said.

Photo by Janelle Patterson Twenty-two special Olympics athletes from Washington County were joined by 32 law enforcement personnel for the Marietta leg of the Ohio Special Olympics torch run Wednesday.

“I’m competing in the 400-meter dash and the softball throw,” added Clarissa Hendershot, 28, of Marietta.

The group has been practicing for eight weeks, despite weather delays.

“There’s just been so much rain,” said Flesher. “But we normally practice at Marietta Middle School, we have for years there using their track.”

Flesher was thankful also to receive a couple of checks before the team left Thursday, from a parent of one athlete who couldn’t compete this year but will be cheering on the team from afar.

“It was one of my projects this year to raise money for all the good they do,” said Doris Brooker, of Lowell. “So with the Ohio Rebecca Assembly, The Augusta Rebecca Lodge and the Oddfellows Lodge we raised about $400 with probably another $500 coming. I have a daughter in this group, and this will be the first year she’s missed in a long time.”

Photo by Janelle Patterson Clarissa Hendershot carries the torch for the Ohio Special Olympics with Lt. Anne Ralston around the Marietta College track Wednesday.

The team begins competition at the Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus Friday afternoon.

Participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run through Marietta included one U.S. Marine, and multiple dispatchers and officers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Noble Correctional Institution, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Police Department and Marietta College Police Department.

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Janelle Patterson can be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com