James Ortiz March 2012

OPT is especially proud to sponsor James Ortiz in his endeavor to  his current  goal of qualifying to run in the U.S. Paralympic trials in the 400 meters in Indianapolis in June with the ultimate goal of making the U.S. Paralympic team London 2012.

The photos and video (below) were taken in March 2012 as he was fitted for his new running prosthesis and also during fabrication.

James is currently the head track and field coach at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas.  Another impressive fact is James still holds the record in the 1,500 meters at Texas State.

OPT knows you will make the team, James! Good luck!

Video uploaded Soon!

Damon Clifford in caller.com article

"Some, like Damon Clifford of Austin, are overcoming personal challenges. The 33-year-old is competing in his first triathlon since an injury from a car accident led to the amputation of his leg between the ankle and knee in June. Clifford is hoping to qualify for the Paratriathlon National Championship on May 28 in Austin."

Full Artical

http://www.caller.com/news/2012/feb/17/corpus-christi-to-host-first-full-distance/

James Ortiz Former Texas State runner shooting for Paralympic Games

Former Texas State runner shooting for Paralympic Games

When James Ortiz isn’t coaching these days, he’s running. 

The former Uvalde and Texas State distance running standout now works as the head track and field coach at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan.

Ortiz, whose track career was cut short when he lost part of his right leg six years ago in a bicycle accident, is also running strong again and says he wants to try to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic trials for track and field in the 400 meters.

He said in a telephone interview from Kansas on Friday that he plans to try to run in a meet at Fort Hays (Kan.) in March so that he can post a qualifying time, which would allow him to run in the trials in Indianapolis in late June.

Ortiz, the Texas State record-holder in the 1,500 meters, said he thinks he has a shot at making the U.S. Paralympic team for London.

“I’d like to do it for everybody here at Colby, and also for the people at Texas State, to make up for that senior year that I never gave to ‘em,” he said in a telephone interview.   “Also for everyone back home (in Uvalde), of course.”

In June 2006, doctors amputated Ortiz’s right leg below the knee following  an accident when he his bicycle collided with a vehicle in San Marcos.

He wrote an email to the Express-News in December to say that he hasn’t given up.

Ortiz also noted that he has been coaching for five years, including the last three seasons at Colby.

Last fall, his cross country team was ranked No. 1 in the nation at one point before finishing ninth at the national meet.

Currently, the team is in the midst of its indoor season.

Now running again himself on a prosthesis, Ortiz sped to a time of 19 minutes and 27 seconds in a 5K in Uvalde back in November. 

He followed that with an 18:17 in Austin a few months later.

“It’s exciting to run again,” he said.  “It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in years.”

artical from http://blog.mysanantonio.com/the-local-scene/2012/01/former-texas-state-runner-shooting-for-paralympic-games/

OPT Cyclists to ride in LiveStrong Challenge

OPT is proud to sponsor several amputees that will participate in LiveStrong   Challenge Ride
in Austin, October 16, 2011.
The LiveStrong Challenge is the signature fundraising for the Lance Armstrong
Foundation.Carlos Garcia, Jaime Schanbaum, and Greg Lakomski will be joined by OPT’s
Practitioners and avid cyclists Aaron Foreman, David Polanco, and Kevin Kimbell in this year’s ride.