Napa runner Pruyn to compete at Deaflympics

From: Napa Valley Register - Napa,CA,USA - Jan 6, 2005

Napa resident Brice Pruyn, a student-athlete at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., is a member of the USA Deaf track and field team and will participate in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Opening ceremonies for the games were held on Wednesday and closing ceremonies are scheduled for Jan. 16. The U.S. team set up a training camp in Canberra, Australia.

"This will be my first time going to Deaflympics," Pruyn said in a letter. "There are lots of athletes on the track and field team who are going there for the first time. The men's middle distance and the long distance team seem more than likely to have a chance at winning a medal there."

Pruyn ran for California School For the Deaf in Fremont and Chabot College in Hayward.

Pruyn has one more year of collegiate indoor and outdoor track to go.

"I'm going to try and aim to win the district championships and qualify for the NCAA Division III championships in both indoor and outdoor," said Pruyn.

2004, Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc.