Cheers filled the air Friday at Lakeside High School as the Columbia County School District hosted its annual Special Olympics.
Approximately 500 student-athletes in grades K-12 joined by their family members, teachers and volunteers from the schools and Fort Eisenhower bathed in the sunshine as they participated in the games’ events.
“This is a very important day for our students to showcase their talents,” said Sharard Pritchett, director of special services for the school district. “They practice these events throughout the year with our adaptive physical education teachers. We’ve had some of our students compete at the state level.”
The event brings the district together as some schools host send-offs for their athletes as they head to the games, he said.
“Not only does it celebrate our students but it brings the whole community together,” Pritchett said. “We couldn’t ask for a better day; we couldn’t ask for a better event to celebrate our students and have them come out and compete.”
The day’s events included games such as a ball throw, bocce contest, races, javelin, long jump, target toss and more.
Payton Landrum, 16, said she enjoyed competing in the games each year. A student at Riverside Middle School, she’d just knocked down several pins in the sling pin competition and was looking forward to competing in other events.
“She knocked down those pins so fast. She’s been practicing so much,” said her mother, Katherine Landrum.
Paris Andrews, 12, had just completed the long jump. “I came in first,” she said. “It was very fun.”
Paris is competing for a second year in the Columbia County Special Olympics, said her mother, Minimarie Andrews Hardy. She also attends Katie’s Pool at the Family Y for adaptive swimming and participates in Exceptional Basketball, her mother said.
Messiah Pena, who attends Evans Elementary, was competing in his first special olympics with the district, said his mother, Michele Pena.
“This is our first time,” she said. “I think it’s awesome. He gets to interact with his peers and have fun, so I love it. I’m glad for him.”
