Celebrating Super Sports Day

Cheers punctuated already loud music as a group of milers reached the final stretch on the Sequoia High School track Friday morning.

As one athlete exited, an onlooker asked for his time.

"I don’t know,” replied the runner, "but I got first,” while holding up a gold medal.

The runner was one of about 380 athletes from 20 San Mateo County schools who came together on the Redwood City track Friday for the ninth annual countywide Super Sports Day. The track and field meet is part of the Special Olympics’ Schools Partnership Program which helps classroom teachers provide students the opportunity to compete in four different sports at no expense.

Super Sports Day, which allowed students with different abilities to compete using their track and field skills, started with a 9:30 a.m. parade and went until 2 p.m.

"When you see the smile on their face, the community coming together, it’s all worth it,” said Jim Bell, adapted physical education specialist for the Sequoia Union High School District.

Making the day happen requires lots of parents, teachers, staff and student volunteers, said Bell. It builds the self esteem of the student athletes and also exposes leadership students to their peers with special needs.

Around the field, athletes simultaneously took on different events.

On the west side of the field, Capuchino High School’s Ruzzel Francisco stood on a painted line while someone counted down, 3-2-1. Francisco got a couple of shots to see how far he could jump in the standing long jump division. Each time, he would put all his energy into it. Jumping was his favorite activity of the day, he said.

To the south, contestants in wheelchairs took their places on the track before the first race.

Instructional aide Loretta Szeto and Sequoia High School student Peter V. took an early lead which they never gave up. Szeto smiled as she picked up Peter’s arm.

"We won Peter. Yay!” she said.

Athletes were testing their throwing arms on the west side of the field. Teachers and volunteers measured the lengths and gave last-minute advice to the athletes adding inches — sometimes feet — to their total.

Lastly, on the north side, runners did sprints in six- to seven-person heats.

During his heat, Menlo-Atherton High School senior Eduardo Jimenez took an early lead. At the end, he was all smiles and high fives to those who ran against him.

It’s Jimenez’s fourth time participating in the annual games, which he enjoys because it allows him to have fun while meeting new people.

The Special Olympics’ Schools Partnership Program has allowed Super Sports Day to be offered to more than 90 special day class teachers and approximately 1,000 students during the 2010-11 school year.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by email: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.