State Sports

Although Astana, Armstrong's current cycling team, will be participating in the Tour of Missouri, Armstrong will be at a cancer-fighting fundraiser for his Livestrong Foundation in Canada during the race.

After 340 miles and four days, the contestants of the Missouri River 340 reached the finish line to the sweet sound of applause.

The Missouri River 340 race came to an end Thursday as boaters came ashore in St. Charles.

Hof left the check point leading the women's solo division of the Missouri River 340, a trek for canoeists and kayakers that takes paddlers 340 miles down the Missouri River. It is a remarkable accomplishment for someone who only began paddling in June.

The Its Woot Rivermen are one of the teams competing in this year's Missouri River 340, a trek for canoeists and kayakers that takes paddlers 340 miles down the Missouri River. The team is part of the Discovery Exploration organization that from 2003 to 2006 reenacted the Lewis and Clark expedition across America.

They followed the same path as Lewis and Clark and camped at the same locations. The only difference was the modern-day travelers used satellite cell phones to keep in touch with communities where had planned to make presentations and they used a motorized canoe because many of the rivers are no longer navigable with paddles.

Race co-director Scott Mansker said the race, a 340-mile trek for canoeists and kayakers down the Missouri River to St. Charles, was delayed for the first time in its short four-year history.

Cami Ronchetto and Linda LaFontaine are two of the many racers participating in the Missouri River 340. Ronchetto has participated in a number of adventure races over the years, but this is her first time tackling the Missouri River competition.

A record-number of competitors will paddle down the Missouri River this week as part of the Missouri River 340. The grueling race presents physical and mental challenges to the participants during its four-day run.

After a car accident put him in a two-week coma and left him paralyzed from just below the chest down, Chad Kocina came to Columbia to start over. Kocina, who played football in high school, learned about the Driving Force power wheelchair soccer club from his caseworker at Rusk Rehabilitation Center.

Pickleball, "America's fastest growing sport" according to the USA Pickleball Association's Web site, made its Show-Me State Games debut last weekend at New Haven Elementary School.

Pete Wilden has been refereeing in the Show-Me State Games for five years, mostly working adult contests.

The route will travel from St. Louis to Kansas City, a reversal from past years, and the race will include seven teams who raced in this year's Tour de France.

J.T. Jarnegan has played in the Show-Me State Games' basketball tournament every year since suffering a heart attack and undergoing surgery. He is set to make his 12th appearance at the games on Friday.

By offering Olympic gold medal winners $250,000, USA Wrestling hopes to entice wrestlers to stay in the sport rather than moving to other forms. Ben Askren of MU, a 2008 Olympian, is one of those eager to take advantage of the bonuses.

Chris Ogbonnaya, a seventh-round draft pick, has signed with the St. Louis Rams, the team said Monday. Ogbonnaya attended the University of Texas at Austin.

Eddie Chick and Rob Heuer have been running in derbies together for 20 years.

The Lowden family competes and bonds in Show-Me State Games

The best trucks and tractors can do a "full pull" of 300 feet. Others die trying. That's when the hard work that the crowd doesn't see comes in.

Steve Terry, 54, of Lexington, and Jack Uhrig, 55, of Marshall, competed in the Show-Me State Games' track and field competition Saturday night. They have been taking part in the event since 1993, but they have been competing against each other since 1967.

Gov. Jay Nixon competed in the Show-Me State Games' men's basketball skills competition Saturday at Hearnes Center.