Hundreds of Jefferson County athletes took part in the 26th annual Special Olympics Track and Field event April 21 at De Soto High School.
“We had right at 600 athletes this year, which is the largest that we’ve ever had, and I would say we had 800-1,000 volunteers, counting all the coaches, and we had buddies for all our athletes,” said event organizer Terri Dallas, a program manager at Pony Bird.
An estimated 514 athletes took part in the event last year.
Dallas said athletes came from Pony Bird, Mapaville School, Aspiring Solutions, Sullivan School District and every school district in Jefferson County. She said the three largest sending school districts – Festus, Fox and Northwest–increased student attendance this year. Fox sent the most athletes with 117, followed by Northwest with 79, and Festus with 51.
Pony Bird sent 103 athletes to the event. This was Aspiring Solutions’ first time participating, and the Crystal City business sent 29 athletes.
“(The schools) sent athletes and buddies for their athletes, and some of the school districts provided extra buddies so that the other organizations that didn’t have buddies with them could have their own buddy,” Dallas said. “Everybody had their own buddy.”
The athletes could participate in traditional or modified events.
“These included shorter races like 10-meter, 15-meter, 25-meter, and 50-meter running and walking races, as well as races for those using wheelchair and walkers,” Dallas said of the modified events. “We modify the shotput with softball and tennis ball throw. Long jumps are modified with a standing long jump. Javelin is modified with a turbo javelin.”
Dallas said the event gets better each year. “I think the big thing that stands out is the inclusive environment,” she said. “Everybody is mixed in with our athletes, and our athletes are mixed in with everybody else. To see the support that you get from communities and from school districts to support these athletes, I think is just something that really stands out.”
This year, Fred Bird attended the event and cheered on the athletes during the opening ceremonies, which featured athletes and several first responders.
Many of the same organizations help out each year, including student council members from area school districts. Dallas said De Soto High School Student Council members provided buddies and also ran track events.
“The Special Olympics Track and Field event is hands down my favorite day of the school year,” said Jon Roop, De Soto High School principal. “We could not be more proud of our athletes who competed and represented our school so well. We are equally proud of our Student Council for planning and organizing such an outstanding event, along with the countless student volunteers who give their time and energy to make the day a success. It’s also incredibly meaningful to see the De Soto community rally around this event year after year. Organizations like Amvets Post 48, First State Community Bank, Spire, the Milfeld Foundation, our area first responders, and many others play a vital role in making this day so wonderful for the Special Olympic athletes that competed.”
Felix Milfeld said the Milfeld Foundation donated $15,000 for the 2026 Special Olympics event and another $15,000 for the 2027 Special Olympics event.
Dallas thanked the Milfelds and Special Olympics Missouri for their support.
She said the De Soto Amvets and De Soto Knights of Columbus provided a hot dog lunch and GraceLife Chapel provided ice cream for the athletes and volunteers. The De Soto VFW provided supplies for lunch.
First State Community Bank staff ran a concession stand so spectators and family members could get food and drinks. Spire employees ran the awards area and helped out with track events. About 30 students from Jefferson College’s HOSA (future health professionals) ran an event.
De Soto Junior High Student Council students ran the Victory Village. Crash Karaoke donated a DJ for music. Canine Companions were there with therapy dogs to pet. Steve Vanhoogstraat emceed the opening ceremony parade.
“It’s a bigger track meet than the Special Olympics Area Games in St. Louis draws,” Dallas said. “We have more athletes and volunteers than they have. A lot of these athletes don’t advance onto the other tournaments because of convenience, transportation and all that stuff. That’s why we hold this event on a weekday, so that we can get the school districts to support them and get their athletes down to enjoy a Special Olympics competition.”