Special Olympics Iowa hosts Spring Games in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - For Ryan Lane, a Special Olympics athlete from Vinton, Saturday's Spring Games provided a safe space for fierce competition.

Hosted by Coe College, the Spring Games is an annual event put on by Iowa's East Central Area Special Olympics. Ryan, 14, was one of about 240 athletes from Benton, Cedar, Linn, Johnson and Jones counties to compete in track and field competitions.

'With these kids, they have no reservations when they're here,” said Dan Lane, 46, Ryan's father. 'Compared to when we're practicing at the school, they have reservations because they see all of the other kids practicing on the track. Here is where they don't have to see even the looks.

'(Ryan) actually broke out of his autistic shell. You can see where the kids are relaxed.”

Held every April, this year's Spring Games included more than 25 events, such as shot put, long jump, wheelchair races and other short and long distance foot races, said Katie Nance, director of East Central Area Special Olympics.

Kelly McCarville, 40, of Cedar Rapids, was at the competition with her son Ian McCarville, 12, a student at Oak Ridge Middle School in Marion. He participated in the softball throw and 50 meter dash. This was Ian's first year competing in the Spring Games.

'I hope to continue to do this,” Kelly McCarville said. 'I think the benefit for Ian is that he is happy no matter what he's doing, but he fits in here.”

Special Olympics is the international competition that gives athletes with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports. By doing so, the organization aims to fight 'inactivity, injustice and intolerance,” so participants may 'become accepted and valued members of their communities,” according to the Special Olympics Iowa website.

For some of the athletes participating, the day is just a time to reconnect with old friends.

'I like to make friends, and I like to have fun,” said Mallory Earnest, 32, of Iowa City, who participated in three running events - the 100 meter, 400 meter and 4x100 meter relay.

The social aspect of the event is key concurred Michelle Lane, 43, who is Dan Lane's wife and Ryan's mother and also is an assistant coach for the Vinton-Shellsburg United team that competed Saturday.

'They're with people who have a like mentality, like physical disabilities and nobody criticizes each other,” she said. 'It's just fun.”

However, it's still a competition - and the athletes were at Coe to win, said Ginger Halverson, a coach for the Linn-Mar School District Special Olympics team.

'I think it is a myth that a Special Olympic athlete doesn't want to compete because, man when that gun goes off, when they say throw, they are going 100 percent for that ribbon,” Halverson said.

The Spring Games is a qualifier for athletes to move onto the state competition - the Summer Games set for May 25-27, Nance said. The Summer Games - Special Olympics Iowa's largest event of the year - is expected to bring more than 2,600 to Iowa State University for the three-day event, according to the Special Olympics Iowa website.

For more information on Special Olympics Iowa, and any of its upcoming events, visit soiowa.org.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com