AREA SPECIAL OLYMPIANS COMPETE IN LOCAL GAMES

Silver Howard competed in the standing long jump Saturday during the Special Olympics as Brandon Beninati judged the event at the Cape Girardeau Central High School track complex.

The sun shined, and so did Silver.

She grinned throughout the opening ceremonies and as she competed in two events. Her smile became especially bright as she stepped to the right of the tallest podium to accept her first award.

Silver Howard had won a medal to match her name in the 50-meter dash.

"It feels good. I like this," she said.

Howard's feelings were shared by some 400 athletes, coaches and fans who attended the Southeast Area Special Olympics Track and Field Meet at Central High School.

Special Olympics events are held at the local, state and national levels to provide mentally or developmentally disabled people of all ages an opportunity to compete in athletic events. Participants practice -- sometimes year-round -- to prepare for running, jumping and throwing competitions in one or more of the 13 local Olympic events.

Participants compete in athletic heats based upon age, gender and training scores. Every Olympian is a winner, and not only because they participated.

Each Special Olympics event is set up so that everyone goes home with a medal or ribbon.

Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, Commerce Bank of Southeast Missouri, Zimmer Broadcasting and Ahrens Appraisal serve hosted the event this year. Penny Blandford, a city recreation supervisor and Southeast area director, has come to know many of the athletes, including Howard, well over the years.

"Silver is great. They're all great," said Blandford. "She trains at the Osage Community Center, and she has always got a smile on her face. She's just happy to be a part of this."

Missy Sanges, who supervises the company that sponsored Howard, said the Special Olympics are an excellent confidence booster for participants. Athletes are happy to be at the local event, but the real excitement comes if they advance to state-level competition held at Fort Leonardwood next month, she said.

For example, Howard's gold medal in the softball throw has been a major topic of conversation since she won it at the state meet last year.

"Silver wears her medal all the time now," said Sanges. "I think it gives her a lot of confidence."

Although most of the day's events took place at the track, Blandford said Special Olympics has athletic seasons. Locally, athletes also compete and advance to state competition in swimming, basketball, softball, floor hockey and bowling. Efforts are underway to organize a volleyball league this year.

Howard, whose best conditioning takes place in the local mall, said she might be interested in volleyball once the season is underway. After all, she's an all-around sort of athlete.

"I don't know. I might try," she said with a smile.