Each year, School District 51 partners with Special Olympics Colorado to host a track and field meet at Stocker Stadium, giving Western Slope students with disabilities the opportunity to compete athletically in a venue thatâs home to so many other events.
The meet didnât take place last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although District 51 and Special Olympics still arenât in a position to organize a large-scale meet, some with the school district have taken steps of their own to ensure students with special needs will get their time to shine.
D51 Adaptive Physical Education teacher Katie Hummel is among the organizers for two track and field meets for special-needs students at local schools. The first such meet took place Wednesday at the Fruita 8/9 School track, with 25 Fruita 8/9 and Fruita Monument High School students competing in various events. Grand Junction High School will host its own such meet next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.