Special Olympians all win at annual games

He'd been anticipating this moment for a long year, Monday practice after Monday practice.

And now Ryan Pocius would show his best friend how wrong he'd been to underestimate him as a competitor. The two eagerly toed the starting line for their heat in the 100 meter dash, waiting a near eternity for the starter to give the signal.

"On your mark! Get set!" The words cut through the low, constant murmur of a 1,000-plus crowd.

Ryan squinted through his glasses at the stretch of track before him.

"Go!" The gun sounded.

Leroy "Freight Train" Triblett's gait was a little unorthodox, but his power and speed were undeniable -- he finished in 15.25 seconds, leaving a disappointed Ryan galloping yards behind.

But the two Sikeston, Mo., teens at Saturday's Special Olympics were friends again at the finish line, collecting bear hugs, hearty congratulations and a shiny gold medal each despite the lopsided finish.

"They both got one since this whole thing is my fault," said coach Vicky Dannenmueller of Oran, Mo. "They should have never been in the same heat against each other, but I filled out the forms wrong. Oh well. Ryan has been wanting to race Leroy anyway."

Leroy and Ryan stood close, smiled widely and toyed with the medals around their necks.

"Next time, I have to go all the way around," Leroy said, gesturing to the track.

That's the way it goes at the Special Olympics, where everybody is a winner no matter how they finish. The joyous atmosphere helped attract 350 athletes from 19 Southeast Missouri counties to the annual Cape Girardeau games at Central High School, along with volunteers, coaches and countless parents.

At least 400 members from 14 Southeast Missouri State University fraternities and sororities volunteered to cap off Greek Week, a weeklong display of public service, said Greek Week co-chair and Alpha Xi Delta junior Erin Hensley.

They coordinated some typical track-and-field events such as the shot put and the running long jump. But, in the spirit of inclusiveness, there also were the softball throw, the 25 meter race walk and the 10 meter wheelchair race.

About 250 athletes from these games will go on to state competition May 16-18 at Fort Leonard Wood. To participate in the Special Olympics, they must be at least 8 years old and identified as mentally retarded.

Coaches and parents say the annual track and field competition, along with bowling, basketball, swimming and all the other sports in the program, give athletes the opportunity to be in a supportive environment with their peers.

"These kids still get too much animosity toward them from the general public," said Paul Stuart of Farmington, Mo., taking a break from proudly videotaping stepson Garry's shot put throws. "There's a stereotype."

Penny Williams, recreation supervisor for the city of Cape Girardeau and part of the area Special Olympics management team, has been with the program since 1985. She's unsure when the program began in Cape Girardeau, but she knows plenty about the hard work it requires all year. Special Olympians play sports every season on the same schedule as high school athletes.

"It makes me grateful for what I have when I see the challenges these athletes overcome," she said. "The teachers will tell you, when these athletes come to school in August, they are talking about track and field in April."

Parent support

Parents say the program provides support for them, too. Carolyn Andrews of Delta, Mo., drives son Patrick, 18, to practice in Cape Girardeau at least three times a week.

"You can't understand it unless you have been there," she said. She and her husband, Jim, adopted Patrick as an infant and found out about his mental disability before he was a year old. They refused to give him up, even though the adoption agency suggested it.

Andrews beamed as her quiet son tore through the first leg of the four-man, one-lap relay. The team, named Mack's Maniacs for coach Bill Mack, finished in a minute and 4 seconds, 7 seconds ahead of their closest competitor.

"See why they won state last year?" Carolyn Andrews said.

Patrick Andrews and teammates Troas Joiner, Daniel Fultz and Ryan Ewing didn't have time to talk at the finish line. They were being called to collect their medals.

"Sorry, but we have to go!" Fultz said. "Thanks anyway!"

And they were off and running again.

hhall@semissourian.com

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