Daily Herald: Vision-impaired athlete competes in Naperville Sprint Triathlon

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Sunday, August 2, 2015
Daily Herald
Vision-impaired athlete competes in Naperville Sprint Triathlon.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- James Gilliard's lacks nearly 40 percent of his sight, but he'll be competing in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon on Sunday using the help of Terri Hayes, a hair salon owner in Naperville who has been a pacer in the Naperville Half Marathon.

Triathlon organizers gave Gilliard permission to have a woman as his guide when usually guides have to be of the same sex as racers, and now he's nearing the end of training for his first triathlon race. Despite a bit of heat stroke, he's confident he'll participate as the only competitor in the race's brand new athletes with disabilities category.

You can read the full story in the Daily Herald's edition from Sunday, August 2 or online at dailyherald.com.