<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>500 athletes claim ribbons and fun at Special Olympics

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April 18, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sat Apr 18, 2009, 07:58 AM CDT

By Debby Woodin

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

Large quantities of gold medals and smiles were distributed on Friday when more than 500 area students and adults competed in the Special Olympics track and field meet at Missouri Southern State University.

Robin Anderson, the Southwest Missouri area director of Special Olympics, said the track meet is one of the organization’s most popular events.

The organization also provides opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to participate in floor hockey, basketball, aquatics, bocce ball, golf, bowling and other sports, Anderson said. All together, about 1,770 area residents participate in 18 different activities each year. The local chapter serves 24 counties in Southwest Missouri.

Last month, two local teams of basketball players competed in state basketball championships.

“It’s a chance for the athletes to show their abilities and show everyone they do have abilities,” Anderson said. “It builds self-esteem and friendship.”

Twelve-year-old Crystus Ash, a seventh-grade pupil at Neosho Middle School, was preparing to participate for the first time, said her grandmother, Janice Duvall, of Neosho.

“I feel good,” about competing in the 200-meter walk and the running long jump, Ash said.

“Oh my gosh, she was so excited,” when she found out she was to participate, said her grandmother.

Crystus and her teammates have practiced every Wednesday for about 10 weeks to get ready for Friday’s meet. “I think that was a good thing,” that seems to have helped Crystus feel a sense of accomplishment and build self-esteem, her grandmother said.

Matt King, 31, of Joplin, was not going to let an injury interfere with the fun of the competition. He said he had been practicing his events “and I feel pretty good except my ankle hurts. I don’t know how I hurt it.”

King was able to sling a softball nearly 30 yards during the softball-throw contest despite the pain and was still planning to run a relay race and the 100-meter dash.

Some of the athletes have physical disabilities and the events take into account those challenges. There are wheelchair races, both motorized and manual, and short walks or runs for those who use crutches or walkers.

In fact, no one’s efforts go unnoticed in this crowd. Everyone gets a ribbon, if not a gold medal, and there are cheerleaders and supporters lining the sidelines of each event who cheer and clap for the athletes.

It took 600 to 700 volunteers to get the athletes to the track meet, run the individual events, hand out the awards, distribute water, and the sundry of chores it takes to produce the meet, Anderson said.

Many area coaches help out and several organizations, such as Community Support Services, provide chaperones and assistants to the athletes as needed. Teams came from Joplin area schools and one group from as far away as Osceola.

“There are so many smiles, that’s why I like to help,” said one volunteer, Keith Lett, of Neosho. “You can’t help but have fun.”

Take the plunge

About 95 area residents took the “Polar Bear Plunge” Feb. 21 in Shoal Creek, raising $16,833 to help pay for Special Olympics athletic events.