The highlights of the special olympics meet were both the 100 meters and 200 meters boys races.
There was heated competition between Peñasco’s Louis McIntosh and Española’s James Sterling-Coronado, who blazed down the track at a high speed neck and neck.
Titus said that after the 100, Sterling-Coronado was beaming. He told Titus that he thought he was going to lose, but he pulled through at the end.
Local athletes from around Northern New Mexico competed in the Area 2 Special Olympics athletics meet on May 4 at Pojoaque Valley High School.
“The families all cheered and had fun,” said Española team coach Ben Titus. “I was able to see some new athletes. Opportunity for competition for people that don’t always have opportunity for competition. You see their faces light up when they say Go! It’s really cool.”
The meet featured participants of all ages from Española, Peñasco, Los Alamos, Las Vegas, Pojoaque, Santa Fe and Taos.
Julian Romero from Las Vegas was named the athlete of the year at the meet.
The Española team has 15 competitors that are students in the school, and is continuing to expand. Titus said the competition is an “outlet for physical” activity, especially for children in wheelchairs or with walkers.
“I wish I had better words for it,” Titus said. “It’s a nice experience.”
Jasmine Muñoz, another student at Española, impressed the crowd with her efforts in wheelchair races.
While athletes compete in different divisions, as assigned by the state, the meet combined races into the same heat so nobody had to race alone.
“To see camaraderie from all the towns around this area, all the coaches seem to know each other at this point, everybody’s trying to help,” Titus said.
Other teams had much older competitors. And the Peñasco team, with mostly youth, differs from Española as it is a community team and is not officially affiliated with any school.
“It’s our 14th year, and they blow me away every year,” said Peñasco coach Beth Grimm. “It fills your heart and makes your heart explode with love.”
Even from a small town, Grimm said word of mouth has helped the program grow to a large size.
“I felt kind of happy,” said Peñasco competitor Mariana Romero. “A sense of excitement.”
Grimm said the team has two former athletes who “watch over us in heaven,” and their names are on the team’s shirts.
Anna Silva, the Area 2 co-director, brightened the day for everyone from the press box, cheering for every athlete, telling stories and singing songs. Silva has been with the special olympics for 16 years, while co-director Cindy Varela has been a part of it for over 20 years.
“Seeing the joy on their faces, no matter what place they get,” Silva said. “Seeing the happiness and the joy that they compete with is the best.”
Silva credited the over 20 volunteers, including Pojoaque students, for helping with the event.
Other events throughout the year include volleyball, swimming, flag football, basketball and other sports. Cornhole is the newest event. The bocce championships were also hosted that day at Pojoaque.
Silva said anyone who wants to get involved can contact her or Varela.
Most competitors from the meet will have the opportunity to compete at the State Summer Games in Albuquerque on May 31 to June 2.
“It’s exciting,” Titus said. “We’ve got another month to get ready.”