Meet Jamie Staton's Virtual Running Team: Mile 4

Bayzil Moreau & Dylan Coyne


Name: Bayzil Moreau
Age: 17
Hometown: Stratham
Local Program: Exeter Area Athletes
Sports: Athletics, Basketball & Soccer

Bayzil “the bolt” Moreau is fast. Bayzil qualified for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Summer Games in Seattle through a new high performance category. In order to qualify, athletes must complete specific events at or above a predetermined level. For the 100M run, males must complete the race in (or under) 13.44 seconds. Bayzil was one of two athletes in NH that qualified in running events. When asked about his speed (and nickname), Bayzil explained that “when I was little, I saw Usain Bolt get the world record and ever since then I wanted to do the same.” 

Bayzil is certainly on his way. Last year, he took home the gold in the 100M Run at the State Summer Games, his high school was runner-up for the Unified Soccer State Championship and his high school Unified Basketball team won the State Championship.

Bayzil is certainly a standout athlete, but remains humble about his role on the team. “The team feels like a big family,” he said, “and we all have respect for each other’s talents. To be a team, not everyone has to be the same, you need a bunch of different people with a bunch of different talents. When we work together, with our different talents, we are the best we can be.”
Name: Dylan Coyne
Age: 20
Hometown: Hancock
Local Program: Conval Cougars
Sports: Alpine skiing, Athletics, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing & Soccer

Dylan Coyne started in Special Olympics when he was just nine years old. “Even then,” his mom, Debra, recalls, “we knew he was fast. Dylan is a born runner.”  He sure is! Dylan is one of two New Hampshire runners that qualified for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Summer Games in Seattle under the high performance category. Dylan can’t wait to represent New Hampshire on the national stage. When asked about being selected, Dylan said “it Is very important. I feel special that I was picked.”

In addition to being a fast, Dylan is very active in High School Unified Sports. High School Unified Sports is a collaboration between Special Olympics and the NHIAA that offers Unified Sports competition (where people with and without intellectual disabilities play together on a team as teammates) in soccer, basketball, volleyball and track & field. High School Unified Sports teams compete just as any other varsity level team does: practicing weekly, traveling to play games against other schools and culminating in a State Championship. Last year Dylan’s High School Unified Soccer team took home the State Championship!

Dylan’s high school has been very supportive of his Special Olympics journey. When Dylan was selected for Team New Hampshire, the school recognized him at an assembly. Debra got a little choked up recalling that day. “Dylan was called up to the stage – in front of the whole school,” she said “and it was announced that he had been selected. The whole school was cheering for him. I could just see how proud he was,” she pauses then to compose herself. “It was a very special moment for me and for Dylan.” Debra said.