The annual Special Olympics track meet at De Soto High School returned May 6, after it was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 200 athletes competed in this year’s event, about half the usual number. Despite the lower attendance and some rain, the event was a success, said Sam Rauls, sponsor of the De Soto Student Council, which runs the track meet.
“I personally think things went great,” Rauls said. “The rain hurt a little. But, even with the rain, the buddies were able to get together. They were having a blast. It’s a big event we love to put on.”
The Special Olympics track meet draws hundreds of competitors and volunteers from school districts and organizations around Jefferson County, as well as some guests from outside the county. The event showcases athletes with developmental disabilities.
The meet included contests in softball throw, tennis ball throw, standing long jump, running long jump and running competitions of various distances.
Volunteers are paired up with participants to help them throughout the meet, Rauls said.
“We had volunteers from every participating school district partner with the athletes,” he said.
“Basically, due to COVID, we asked them to bring their own buddies to go around with the athletes. The buddy’s job is to walk the athletes to their events so they’ll be on time and to cheer them on.”
He said volunteers from Jefferson College and Jennings High School also helped at the event.
In addition to De Soto students, the track meet attracted athletes from the Dunklin R-5, Festus R-6, Fox C-6, Grandview R-2, Hillsboro R-3, Sunrise R-9, Windsor C-1 and Sullivan school districts, as well as from NextStep for Life and Pony Bird Inc.
He said the De Soto event is a stand-alone track meet, not a qualifying event for other Special Olympics competitions.
Jocelyn Diehl, Greater St. Louis Metro Area program director for Special Olympics Missouri, praised De Soto High for once again holding the local track meet.
“Last year would have been the 20th year in a row for De Soto to have hosted the track meet,” Diehl said. “So, we consider this the 20th anniversary of their event at De Soto. It is the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics Missouri as an organization in 2021, so we celebrated both.
“De Soto High School is the driving force of this event. We’re happy to partner with them.”
The De Soto School District supplied food for the event, Rauls said.