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closeSpecial Olympics track meet arrives at Sparks Stadium
Shaun Scott
Teresa Lockey and Karrie Osborne were constantly in motion, making sure everything was going according to plan at the 19th annual Puyallup School District Special Olympics track meet at Sparks Stadium on May 30.
Lockey and Osborne have been in charge of running the event since its inception in 1990. They wouldn’t want it any other way.
“We have about 300 athletes here competing today from first grade through twelfth grade in the district,” Lockey said. “They’re getting a chance to compete in the softball throw, 50-meter run and 100-meter run.”
Lockey said they wanted to put on a track meet that coincided with the annual elementary track meet that has been taking place in Puyallup since 1969.
“The meet got going a day after the elementary school track meet 19 years ago,” Lockey said. “The elementary meet has been a success for so long and we thought the Special Olympics track meet would be successful as well. Their success prompted it to happen.”
Lockey believes the Special Olympics track meet gives student athletes a unique opportunity they probably wouldn’t receive in any other setting.
“Everybody gets ribbons and gives them a chance to be part of a team,” Lockey said. “That’s an important aspect of the event. This is something parents and students have circled on their calendar when the school year starts.”
Osborne said the event has grown significantly since the first meet took place in the spring of 1990.
“We started out with about 200 kids participating each year and now we’re up to 300,” Osborne said. “The more competitors we have, the better it is. It’s just awesome. Having this meet is a way of celebrating diversity for all of the special education students in our school district.”
Osborne said the meet routine hasn’t changed much in the past 20 years.
“We pretty much keep everything the same every year. The consistency not only helps our volunteers but it helps our athletes. Everyone knows what to expect,” Osborne said. “We have about 45 volunteers between staff members, high school students and junior high students. We couldn’t have this meet without the dedication of these individuals.”
Brouillet Elementary School teacher Don Jackson couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face during this meet. Jackson proudly watched 8-year-old Hudson Whalen get out of his wheelchair, and complete the 50 meter dash and 75 yard dash by walking down the track.
“He’s come so far. The last year and half he hasn’t been able to walk. He made his debut on track and his mom, dad and some other family members were here to see him do it. He’s overcome so much and I’m very proud of him,” Jackson said. “Seeing something like that just reinforces the reason why I went into teaching at public schools.”