Regional track and field meet draws big smiles at Special Olympics event

WOODBRIDGE — Every one of the athletes got a ribbon and all left with bigger smiles on their faces — an indication that they had a great time.

A regional track and field meet for Special Olympics was held at Hylton High School in Woodbridge late last week with about 150 athletes competing.

“They love it,” said Dave Melugin of Triangle, assistant coach of the Area 23 Team from Prince William County. “They feel important. They are treated normally, like everyone else. They are not just in the bleachers watching.”

Melugin’s son Joe, 11, has participated in Special Olympics track meets for four years.

“It’s something he looks forward to,” Melugin said.

“It’s very fun,” said Joe, who had the additional honor this year of reciting the Special Olympics oath during the opening ceremonies.

“My heart was beating slowly when the microphone was off. When the microphone was turned on, my heart started going, thump, thump, thump,” Joe said.

His best friend Jesse O’Brien, 11, of Dale City carried the torch during the opening ceremonies.

In addition to the Prince William County and Manassas areas, the track meet drew from Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fairfax counties as well as Fredericksburg.

“This is very social,” said Teresa O’Meara, one of the coaches for the Stafford Area Two team. “This is a forum where they are a part of something. It’s really important to them to be part of a group.”

Matthew Doyle of Stafford, 19, proudly showed his second place to O’Meara. “Special Olympics is great because you can compete in different sports,” he said.

Special Olympics athletic competitions are open to anyone age 8 or older who is intellectually challenged.

The organization receives no federal funding and relies on private and corporate support as well as the efforts of nearly 20,000 volunteers statewide.

On May 16, Boy Scouts, service organizations, high school students and youth groups were among the volunteers who trained, staged, escorted, presented the awards “and most importantly cheered on the athletes,” said Danielle Pokusa, Rappahannock region director for the Special Olympics.

“The Prince William County Special Olympics Area Council did an awesome job putting this together,” Pokusa said. “Volunteers are the backbone to Special Olympics. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Mike Dehlkamp has been the track coach for the Prince William Area 23 team for 12 years.

“The continuity of having the same coach helps the athletes,” Dehlkamp said. “I know them and we have a great rapport. I do this for all of the athletes. I do this for my daughter Jackie.”
Jackie Dehlkamp, 23, is a member of his team.

“They all get out there and they compete, but the vast majority of them do not care if they win or not. It isn’t a competition as much as it is a social gathering,” Dehlkamp said.

The meet was held in preparation for the state Special Olympics event set for June 12-14 in Richmond.

Aileen Streng is a staff writer for the News & Messenger.