FARMINGTON — On Friday, 185 athletes and 219 volunteers converged on the Mt. Blue Athletic Fields for the Special Olympics Spring Games hosted by the Franklin County Special Olympics Committee and Jay AMVETS Post 33.
“The kids are all excited,” said Barbara Cook at the registration table.
County committee area manager Gary Desjardins said students from Regional School Units 9 and 73 and School Administrative District 58 participated. He said adults came from Work First, Maine Growth, Team Opportunity, LEAP, Harris House, Work Opportunity, Care and Comfort, and Navigators of Auburn.
The athletes were placed on one of the four teams, which rotated through the competitions. They included standing long jump, soccer dribble, softball throw and races of 50, 100 and 200 meters. Twenty-one athletes competed in separate wheelchair obstacle races.
“I tried my hardest. I feel good about myself,” an adult Special Olympian said.
University of Maine at Farmington coaches assisted with timekeeping for the races.
Maine State Police Troopers Randy Hall, Jillian Monahan and Keith Barton of Troop C from Skowhegan passed out ribbons to the Special Olympians. Police officers from area departments also assisted.
A large barbecue was served by committee members and Jay AMVETS.
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Adults from the Care and Comfort programs in Farmington and Auburn compete at the Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Regional School Unit 73 student Olivia DiPasquale of Jay, second from left, competes in the standing long jump at Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Logan Gibson, center, of Strong Elementary School competes in the soccer dribble at the Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at the Mt. Blue Athletic Fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Regional School Unit 73 student Izzie Dolloff of Jay competes in the standing long jump at Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at the Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Regional School Unit 9 student Tucker McPheters joins staff members, from left, Summer McCollough and Amanda Beane at the Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Maine State Trooper Randy Hall, center, watches the softball thrown by Olivia DiPasquale of Jay, right, during the softball throw at Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
Athletes compete in the 50-meter race at Special Olympics Maine Spring Games at Mt. Blue athletic fields in Farmington on Friday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
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