Stanislaus County’s Special Olympics athletes take the field, win medals, hearts, hugs

Celebrating spirit as much as sport, effort as much as achievement, the 42nd annual Track and Field Area Games of the Stanislaus County Special Olympics kicked off with hearty cheers and words of wisdom.

Giving thanks for “the opportunities of life,” Sheriff’s Department Chaplain John Price noted. “It isn’t always what we expect, but it’s through that we learn the most.”

One thing learned by the assembled athletes is that winning isn’t everything, said Modesto fire Chief Sean Slamon.

“These athletes understand the true spirit of competition,” he said. “Joy and happiness does not come from winning. Joy and happiness comes from stepping on the track and competing together.”

About 60 athletes of all ages stepped up to compete, including some who had been at all 42 of the Special Olympics games.

Nikki Larsen said her daughter Heather, now 48, has gone to every one. Larsen stood beside a quilt she had made from old Stanislaus Special Olympics T-shirts as a fundraiser for the event. “The funding has decreased. I quilt, and it just felt like it was a good moneymaker,” she said. “It’s just a labor of love.”

Families sitting in the shaded stands said it was a red-star day for their athletes.

“He looks forward to it every year,” said Kathleen Medsger of her son, whose favorite event was the 50-meter run. “He likes that sense of being able to compete like anybody else. To come out here and have everyone supporting them means a lot to them,” she said.

Alfredo and Karla Ortega came to cheer on their son Carlos, a 2014 Beyer graduate who ran an 8-minute mile in the first event. “He used to be on the Beyer track team,” Alfredo Ortega said.

Cheering on Cheneye Williams, 33, were his parents, David and Lynda Williams of Stockton. “He gets the pure enjoyment of competing, and the fellowship with other Special Olympians,” David Williams said.

“He gets huge support here – our little hero,” said Lynda Williams with a smile.

Also cheering, and shepherding and running lists to the announcer and back, were dozens of volunteers from the Interact Club of Cesar Chavez Junior High in Ceres.

“It’s all about going out in the community and helping,” said Camille Vega, 14. It was the second year the club had come to the event, she said.

“It made a lot of kids feel really good to help,” said Shania Evans, 13. “I think it’s good to make (the athletes) feel a part of something big like this.”

Adults pitching in included special education educators, staff from Valley Mountain Regional Center and volunteers from CarMax, Frito-Lay and other businesses. Having the community mix in with these athletes means a lot, said event organizer John Wray.

Back when the Special Olympics started, attitudes toward those with disabilities were very different, said event organizer John Wray.

“We need to thank the parents of kids probably in their 50s now. They fought the good fight. It’s through their advocacy that our population came out of the shadows,” Wray told the crowd.

After the races started, he said Special Olympics differs from all other events for people with disabilities. “It’s training on a competitive level,” he said, adding that 55 of the athletes had trained since January for their events.

“We stay as close as we can to (Amateur Athletic Union) rules as we can. That way, if they’re playing in the community or at school, they know the real rules. They can play with anybody. If you dummy down the rules, they can’t play with their peers,” Wray said.

Some athletes can only walk the distances, some pushing walkers, but others finish their runs with impressive times. “It’s a gamut, but I’ve got some quality athletes,” he said.

This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 9:08 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County’s Special Olympics athletes take the field, win medals, hearts, hugs."