Southlake celebrated its Special Olympics team during its annual track meet last month.
On Sunday, April 30, over 200 people came out to the Carroll Middle School track to watch the Southlake Carroll Special Olympics team compete against Birdville, Argyle and HEB ISD. The meet kicked off with a community parade led by five Carroll school resource officers during the opening ceremony.
“That was the first time we had ever done something like that,” says Ashley Poteet, Special Olympics head coach. “We don’t always see that interaction between the SROs and the kids, so having that at the start of the ceremony was very special.”
From there, around 25 Carroll Special Olympians competed in 10 track and field contests, including 50-200 meter runs, 4x100 relays, assisted races, throwing and javelin events. With families cheering them on and volunteers from the National Charity League and the Young Men’s Service League helping to organize the events, Ashley says the community helped make the track meet a success.
“It’s all about participation,” she says. “The support we get from all of our faculty, staff, teachers and parents — we wouldn’t have been able to run the event without all of the support we have from them.”
With several Dragon athletes medaling in individual contests, it was a great day to be part of Southlake Carroll’s Special Olympics.
“Just seeing the kids be happy, successful and smile as they do something they don’t normally get to do makes it all worth it,” Ashley says.