Area youth compete at Kiwanis Track & Field Day
COSHOCTON – Kelly Dean and Chloe Johnson couldn’t have been prouder of the ribbons pinned to their chests.
“It feels awesome to get them,” Dean said. “This is a pretty fun place.”
She and Johnson were both competing at the 21st annual Kiwanis Track & Field Day for area youth. The annual event held to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month took place March 26, at Kids America.
“I like track the best, but playing all the games is fun,” Johnson said.
About 180 youth from Coshocton, Ridgewood, River View and Newcomerstown schools and Hopewell competed in the basketball hoop shoot, cornhole, football toss, track events and soccer shootout. There also were more than 60 volunteers from Coshocton High School’s Key Club.
“It’s been really fun to watch the kids compete against each other and win ribbons,” said Talon Babcock, a junior at CHS. “They are so excited when they win.”
David Edmunds agreed with Babcock.
“I like seeing their faces and the smiles they have after they win a ribbon,” said Edmunds who is a sophomore at CHS.
Toby Collins, Coshocton County Board of DD director of recreation and Special Olympics coordinator, enjoys watching the volunteers and the athletes work together.
“I think the youth volunteers get more out of this than what they first expect when they get here,” she said. “They interact well with them and celebrate together.”
Frank Polen, principal at Warsaw Elementary, also had fun cheering athletes from his school on.
“I like seeing them enjoy themselves and have success,” he said. “As an adult this event also gives you a lot of perspective. Sometimes we take sports at the high school, college and professional level way too serious. These guys are the real champions.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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