heptathlon

BY DENNY DRESSMAN

Former Valor Christian and University of Florida star Anna Hall won her second straight national heptathlon gold medal at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon last weekend.

Competing with her parents, David and Ronette Hall of Greenwood Village, cheering her on, Hall finished with 6,677 points to repeat as the nation’s best female athlete. Her margin was 358 points ahead of the silver medalist, Taliyah Brooks, a former University of Arkansas standout.

Six weeks earlier, at the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold Meet in Gotzis, Austria, Hall won all seven events and finished with 6,988 points. It was the highest heptathlon score in six years.

Her total—only 293 points below Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s world record—enabled her to join the heptathlon legend as the only women to exceed 6,700 points in the history of the heptathlon.

“What I see are all the tools to rewrite the record books,” Joyner-Kersee said. “You’re seeing greatness in motion without even knowing the greatness is before you, because of her natural ability.”

In Oregon, Hall spent time with the world record-holder, who has become something of a mentor.

“It’s awesome to keep getting wisdom from her,” Hall said. She’s really poured into me, kind of off-the-track advice, which has been super valuable.”

With her gold medal and point total, Hall qualifies for the World Track and Field Championship in Budapest, Hungary next month. The heptathlon will be contested over two days, August 19-20, during the eight-day Championships.

There, Hall will face two-time Belgian Olympic gold medalist Nafi Thiam, who became the only heptathlete to equal Joyner-Kersee’s back-to-back Olympic titles by winning in Tokyo in 2020 as an encore to Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Thiam set the pentathlon indoor world record in March and is the defending heptathlon champion.

“I think it’s going to be a really exciting finish to decide the world’s top female athlete,” Hall said, predicting that the gold medal will come down to the final event, the 800-meter run.

The importance of dignity

Being a traveler and relationship expert, I am struck by the importance of the human need for dignity. Few understand the true meaning of dignity, and even fewer realize the extraordinary impact it has on our lives and relationships. Dignity defined is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.

Our shared need for dignity transcends our differences, putting our common human identity above everything. While our uniqueness is important, research has shown us that if we don’t take the next step toward recognizing our shared human identity, conflicts in our communities, workplace, families, and personal relationships, will continue.

Correction

Our story on the Greenwood Village Police Department awards ceremony in the June 29, 2023 issue contained several inaccuracies.

Police Department awards are determined by a committee of sworn and non-sworn employees of all ranks below the command level and are confirmed by the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police.

Our statement that, “A few of the many acts of valor that led to recognition of some of the dozens of people who were honored with receiving it,” should have said, “Only one medal of valor was awarded due to the very high standard for which that recognition is earned.”

Corporal Heil received a Life Saving award for his efforts to save an individual who was threatening

The glue that holds our relationships together is the mutual recognition of the desire to be seen, known, valued, heard, listened to, and treated fairly; to be recognized, understood, and to feel safe. When our identity is accepted and we feel included, we are granted a sense of freedom and independence and a life filled with hope, purpose, and possibility.

A dramatic example of the lack of dignity was on full display as I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps in Poland. I was stuck by the systematic denial of human dignity. It was relocating a targeted people group against their will on the premise that they were undesirables, mocking to jump from an overpass. We incorrectly said the award was for administering a life-saving tourniquet and performing CPR.

The individual identified by Matthew Ottolenghi, who was recognized for assisting the police in apprehending a suspect, was arrested for a theft that occurred outside the neighborhood where he was apprehended, not “several thefts and trespasses in that neighborhood.” their faith, food and customs, giving them numbers rather than names, taking their belongings, putting them in disgusting uniforms, shaving their heads, and separating them based on their potential to work, not feeding them properly, not allowing them to rest or access basic hygiene, and terrorizing them with harsh punishment and death. This is a shocking example of stolen dignity.

The bottom photo on page eight is GVPD Officer Austin Speer and his K9 partner, Mercury. In the photo, Officer Speer is holding a Police Merit Award. He also received a Life-Saving Award and Meritorious Unit Award.

The Villager regrets the errors.

Stolen dignity can be subtle. Working as a nurse in an intensive care unit, I was overwhelmed with frustration when some of my colleagues did not drape a patient well and value their privacy if they were unconscious. As a charge nurse in this situation, I was obsessed with training and making sure this did not happen on my watch. Even recently, caring for my mom in hospice care, I was acutely aware that her dignity was an issue for her even though it was unstated. Being a fiercely independent strong woman for 91 years, she was losing control of her care, her body and her circumstances. I felt totally responsible for ensuring that she knew and approved of each step of her care. When she died, I admonished the young hurst drivers, that when they took her body to the mortuary, they should show her the dignity and respect she deserved, even in her death. Every individual that is born is an invaluable, priceless, and irreplaceable human. It is important to honor other people’s dignity, and, in the process, will strengthen your own. Dignity is the most important thing to honor the human spirit. Treat others with value, respect and dignity which means treating them the way you would like to be treated. It is important for our collective humanity. joneen@myrelationship center.org

Cherry Hills Villagers Judy and Charlie McNeil to be honored

Humanitarian Award to be presented to the couple at VOA’s 30th Western Fantasy on Sat., Oct. 21, 2023

What does humanitarian mean? To have compassion. To work from the heart. Humanitarianism drives people to save lives and alleviate suffering. To be generous and philanthropic. With those definitions, Judy and Charlie McNeil embody humanitarianism and are so deserving of this distinctive award.

The nonprofit - Volunteers of America Colorado has a special place in the hearts of the McNeils. As 2019 Western Fantasy Gala Chairs, they learned firsthand of the incredible services Volunteers of America (VOA) provides across our state. “We have been drawn towards this faithbased organization dedicated in helping those in need to transform their lives and to just see how VOA supports such a diverse population that includes families, children, veterans and older adults,” said Judy.

The more they learned, the more they wanted to give. They became acquainted with VOA’s inno- mittee where he is helping to secure LARGE corporate sponsorships for VOA’s 30th Anniversary signature gala and said: “We are grateful for the continued trust and support from Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake and working with their energetic and vibrant committee members who have such foresight, vision and enthusiasm for this event.”

VOA has more than 50 programs statewide that provide emergency shelter, housing and food to nearly 100,000 state residents in need.

After a tour of one of the Volunteers of America facilities, the “Family Motel”, on West Colfax, they had a better understanding of the goals that VOA has in helping those in need to transform their lives. “It was a huge awakening and gave us a better understanding of the services VOA provides, including its Meals on Wheels program,” they shared.

Judy has been involved on the Steering Committee to raise funds for VOA’s signature fundraiser, Western Fantasy, for 11 years (2012-2023) and expressed the following: “We are thrilled to be amongst the list of past honorees of this prestigious organization. Charlie and I were surprised that we were selected to be honored with the Volunteers of America’s Humanitarian Award to be presented at this year’s 30th Anniversary signature fundraiser - Western Fantasy. As honorees, our goal for this event is to do our best to increase awareness about the Volunteers of America Colorado.” vative rapid rehousing and redirection program for formerly incarcerated men and women.

For a complete list of past honorees beginning in 1996 and much more information, sponsorship opportunities and tickets, visit: westernfantasy. com. The Right Stuff. The Golden Rule.

Charlie is presently serving on this year’s Western Fantasy Corporate Com-

BY MELINDA LUKE AGING GRACEFULLY COLUMNIST

I LOVE the water…. Born and raised in Kentucky the lake life was what my family did on the weekends during the season and week long trips to the lake in the summer.

The boating life is something I never implemented here in Colorado, but there is still hope to someday. But I at least started paddle boarding a couple of years ago. Water was very important to my parents, it makes me feel close to them when I am at the reservoir as they are no longer with me.

I first discovered paddleboarding while on a trip to Lake Tahoe over 4th of July weekend in 2011. I didn’t try it there, but I wanted to find out if I could do it in Colorado when I got back from my trip. I remember the first time myself and a couple of ladies tried to go it didn’t work out, as there was miscommunication with the company who rented them. Today I own two paddleboards and didn’t start taking my dog out with me until last year when I realized it had become a thing. I was surprised he was okay getting on the board with me, as he isn’t a water dog. But he loves and trusts me, so he will do it with me.

As you all know our spring has brought more rain than ever. And it has become quite popular to paddle board at Chatfield reservoir, as there is a section that you can go through the trees on your

Melinda Luke board. I just love being around water. I prefer going later in the day and staying until dusk, especially on the weekend because the word is out how nice it is, and parking can be difficult. Chatfield is truly my favorite place to be, alone with my dog. After I am done on the water I sometimes write or walk my dog around the beautiful gigantic trees that blow in the breeze in several areas of the park. Time near water helps keep me grounded, it’s what my soul needs. There are other nice reservoirs in the area such as Cherry Creek

Reservoir and Aurora Reservoir are ones I have been to as well. Though I have made, “the gravel ponds” at Chatfield my special place. Bear Lake is one I have wanted to try and make it to this season. Always a lot of outdoor options in this beautiful state we live in.

Helping

Melinda Luke-Integrative Health Coach, 303-408-6051 or mail@melindaluke.com.

https://heal.me/melindaluke