Despite Sunday morning's intense heat and humidity, which drove spectators at Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium to huddle under umbrellas and canopies, Special Olympics athletes from around the state were giving their all.

Despite Sunday morning's intense heat and humidity, which drove spectators at Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium to huddle under umbrellas and canopies, Special Olympics athletes from around the state were giving their all.

For the 2016 State Summer Games of the Special Olympics Ohio, a nonprofit organization for athletes age 8 and older with intellectual disabilities, more than 2,600 athletes representing 65 Ohio counties and 99 local organizations competed in 11 sports.

This was the 45th year that OSU has been the host of the Summer Games, with most events taking place on campus and the athletes and their coaches staying in dormitories. A "Tent Town" on campus, offering games, prizes and souvenirs, awaited the athletes on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

"They come with one bag and leave with three," said Linda Zelms, who coaches roller skating for Franklin County.

Sunday's schedule included track and field, the women's softball throw and bowling, which was held at Sawmill Lanes on the Northwest Side.

Franklin County's athletes, totaling 437 with teams from suburbs and the Columbus City Schools, far outnumbered those from other counties. The county's Board of Developmental Disabilities brought 108 athletes this year, including Tim Huffman, who competed in roller skating on Saturday at United Skates of America on the East Side.

So how'd he do? "Good," Huffman said. Zelms, Huffman's coach, wouldn't let him get away with being so modest, revealing that he took gold and silver medals in his events.

Shelby McTrusty, 25, was eye-catching with her purple-and-blue streaked hair and vibrant yellow uniform for Ashtabula County. Then, she really grabbed attention for her mini-javelin throw, which arced straight and true.

P.J. and Tammy McTrusty of Kingsville called out encouragement from the sideline. This is their daughter's 14th year competing. Over the years, she has participated in the 200-meter dash, the 100-meter dash and the standing long jump, but she seems to have a special aptitude for this event, her father said.

Just as important are the friendships she has made through competition, her mother said.

"She has different hair color every year," Tammy McTrusty said. "The one year I didn't get around to doing it, the others asked me, 'What's with Shelby's hair? We have a poll to see what color Shelby will make her hair this year.'"

Shelby McTrusty heard her parents talking about her and asked whether they were being interviewed.

"Looks like you're going to be in the paper," said Tammy McTrusty.

"Again?" her daughter said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm a legend! I'm just like The Undertaker!" referring to the WWE wrestler.

When the time for awards came a few minutes later, the women in Shelby McTrusty's heat lined up and marched onto a podium to a recorded trumpet fanfare. Their names and places were announced. She bowed with a flourish to allow a volunteer to drape a gold medal around her neck.

All six women linked hands and raised them high in the air, triumphant.

sgilchrist@dispatch.com

@shangilchrist