Local athlete Jamie Hathcock poses with a medal won in the 2024 Special Olympics North Carolina Fall Tournament. Photo courtesy Special Olympics Stanly County

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ALBEMARLE — Stanly County will be represented at next year’s 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On June 26, it was announced that Stanly athlete Jamie Hathcock has been selected as one of four members of Special Olympics North Carolina’s athletics (track and field) team.

Hathcock will be joined by Cameron Edmonds of Wake County, Katie Howard of Mecklenburg County, and Lorenzo Stancil of Franklin County as the group competes at the University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium from June 20-26 next year.

Michael Culbertson will serve as the coach of Team SONC Athletics.

“Congratulations to Jamie Hathcock for being selected to represent Special Olympics Stanly County at the 2026 USA Games!” Special Olympics Stanly County said in a statement.

On the night of Hathcock’s national honor, the county’s local Special Olympics organization hosted a 2025 USA Games viewing event, end of year celebration and 2026 selection show watch party in Albemarle as Hathcock was joined by his family, friends and coaches.

“I can’t think of anybody more deserving,” Kim Loflin, a Special Olympics Stanly County co-coordinator, said of Hathcock following the announcement. “We’ve been keeping this secret for a little while. He is a wonderful athlete — Stanly County is going to Minnesota in 2026!”

Back in late May and early June, Hathcock was one of 50 athletes from Stanly County who took part in the annual Special Olympics NC Summer Games in Raleigh. He recorded gold medals in three athletic categories: standing long jump, softball throw, and 50-meter dash.

In total, Hathcock accounted for nearly a third of Stanly’s track and field gold medals earned.

Keith Fishburne, president and CEO of Special Olympics North Carolina, spoke of his state’s USA Games representatives during the national selection show.

“The delegation announced tonight will be made up of athletes who represent a total of nearly 53,000 registered athletes and unified partners from throughout North Carolina,” Fishburne said.

“The candidates for Team Special Olympics North Carolina were selected based on results from their sports during the 2024-25 state level sports season, and they will now have a training camp in January of 2026. It’s a huge honor to be selected for this prestigious delegation. We look forward to showing all the country just how great North Carolinians are.”

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is slated to bring together over 4,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states to compete in 16 different sports.