From left, Megan Heggie, Ray Gildea and Kylie Joiner lift their torches during Friday’s State Games of Mississippi opening ceremonies.

Ray Gildea has been competing in State Games long enough to remember when the opening ceremonies were hosted at Meridian High School.

Friday night, Gildea was more than just a spectator.

As the 2018 State Games of Mississippi’s Male Athlete of the Year, Gildea was one of three athletes of the year to run the torch during the opening ceremonies in front of Meridian City Hall.

“This is such an honor to me,” Gildea said. “There are two kind of adult athletes: ones that are very gifted and highly successful… I’m not one of those people. I’m a person who really only has perseverance and enthusiasm and hopefully good humor. This gives me a chance to really be one of the ordinary people who have persisted at this. It is an honor to do it, but you are honored by doing it.”

If there was anything Gildea wanted people to take away from seeing him run the torch, it’s inspiration to persevere regardless of someone’s level of abilities.

“What people say when they see me compete is, ‘If he can do it, I can do it, because this guy isn’t anybody special,’” Gildea said with a chuckle. “But that’s what’s special about it. Anyone can do it, but you have to take the risk, make the commitment and get out there.”

It’s more than wanting to be an inspiration to other athletes, however. Gildea said an appreciation for State Games, which grew over a period of more than two decades competing as a track and field athlete, made him want to show up for the opening ceremonies, even when he had to be in Birmingham, Alabama, the next day.

“This is something that I love,” Gildea said. “I’m serious about loving it and being supportive.”

Like Gildea, Kylie Joiner is a long-time competitor at State Games. After growing up volunteering and playing soccer and softball, she now competes in the 5K and trail run each summer. The competitive aspect of State Games is what keeps Joiner coming back.

“As you get older, you don’t get as many chances to relive that — plus, the opening ceremonies are a great way to start it off,” Joiner said.

As the 2018 Female Athlete of the Year, Joiner also got to carry the torch and joked beforehand about having to be careful with it while running.

“I feel pretty good about it,” Joiner said. “I rehearsed it earlier, so as long as I don’t catch myself on fire I should be OK.”

Megan Heggie got her second chance to carry the torch Friday night. After being named Youth Swimmer of the Year in 2016, the 2017 opening ceremonies were rained out, forcing her to have to wait an extra year before finally carrying the torch in 2018. Heggie, who competes in youth swimming, was named Youth Athlete of the Year again in 2018, allowing her to participate in the opening ceremonies for the second straight year.

“I was completely shocked when they announced it,” Heggie said of being named Youth Athlete of the Year. “It felt great to have the opportunity to run the torch again.”

While running it the first time was exciting, Heggie said she was 10 times as excited to run it this time, mostly because it wasn’t expected to rain this year. She also said before running it that she hoped she wouldn’t be as nervous as she was in 2018.

“It was a great experience,” Heggie recalled. “(My nerves) wore off once I started getting toward the stage.”