Sonoma County Special Olympics debuts track meet in second annual school event

Nearly 200 Sonoma County Special Olympic athletes competed Thursday in sprints, relays, wheelchair races and other track and field entries as part of a second annual sporting event put on with Santa Rosa City Schools.

The event, which almost doubled in size over last year’s competition, is the second athletic partnership between the county’s largest school district and the agency that supports disabled athletes. But this year was the first time track events were included, said Danielle Taylor, a district adapted physical education specialist.

After rousing opening ceremonies at Montgomery High School, the events continued through the morning before the midday awards ceremony.

Athletes and general education student volunteers from six Santa Rosa schools, plus Windsor and Healdsburg, participated.

Events included 50-, 100- and 400-meter races, the 4-by-100-meter relay and a 1-mile foot race. Those in wheelchairs competed in 25- and 50-meter sprints and a slalom race, where athletes maneuvered their chairs through a course of cones.

One Special Olympic athlete ran a mile in 5 minutes, 42 seconds, Taylor said.

Athletes also participated in the long jump and distance throwing events with softballs and soft javelins.

“We’re hoping to pull in other schools to host,” Taylor said. “It’s so rewarding. The kids’ faces, by the end of the day, are so excited. They come up and say, ‘Look at my medal!’ They’re going to be talking about this for a long time.”

The general education students also learn valuable lessons as they help coordinate the events, assist athletes or emcee the program, Taylor said.

“It breaks down those barriers from our general education peers to our special education students,” she said. “They start to socialize together at school. That’s really the goal. They become friends and not just peers.”

You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.