Under gray skies, Special Olympics athletes made their way onto the CVHS field.
By Mary O’KEEFE
“It went swimmingly,” said Kim Villa, director of Community Engagement for Special Olympics.
Villa was referring to – a little tongue in cheek – the very rainy April 9 and Special Olympics.
The athletes ran in the rain without complaint and competition was just as high as it has been on sunny race days.
“It was actually amazing. There were people in the stands cheering,” Villa said.
Villa had reached out to Montrose Church, a sponsor of the event, to help fill the stands and people came through with great success.
She said she was amazed that the crowd came in the middle of the rain storm, that they weren’t in the stands and got caught in the showers but knew what they were going to be dealing with but came anyway.
“And stayed,” Villa added.
The annual event had 200 track athletes, 120 basketball athletes and 30 bocce ball players. Organizers changed the schedule slightly to keep the competition flowing through the downpours.
“We were able to get to all track events except for the relays,” Villa said. “It was just too wet to continue.”
In addition to the athletes and coaches there were also 110 Crescenta Valley High School students who acted as buddies for the athletes.
Even though it was a gloomy day, Villa said as she looked through the photos, there was nothing but smiles.
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