Hundreds compete in adapted physical education meetFun and friendly competition were in good supply Thursday at the annual Columbus Public Schools Adapted Physical Education Track Meet.
The school district sponsored the meet, which was held for the 16th year at Northland High School. More than 400 local elementary school students participated.
Students from elementary school who have physical handicaps, who are visually impaired or orthopedically handicapped could participate in a wide range events from the tennis ball throw to the 50-meter dash.
"The softball throw is by far the most popular event," said Chris Guzzo, an adapted physical education teacher who helped coordinate the meet.
"There are 43 heats with 172 children involved. It's a big thing."
The students from Columbus schools are all from the adapted PE program, which is designed for children who can't participate in regular gym classes.
Each individual teacher decides which children would be better suited for the adapted classes.
"We as teachers assess our students and put them where they need to be," said Guzzo.
Because many students participate in the meet multiple times in elementary school, they anticipate the event all year, schools officials said.
"It's really something they look forward to," said retired teacher Linda Zelms.
"It helps them understand competition and gives them positive reinforcement at the same time."
Students prepare themselves for the event throughout the year and get to decide which events they want to participate in.
"All adapted PE teachers train the students to come here," said Guzzo.
"It's good because it also allows our students to interact with students from other schools."
In every event, students are assessed by their teachers and then grouped by ability. Guzzo said this is done so no child would get "blown out" in their event.
The top three students in each group were given colored ribbons. But, according to Guzzo, everyone goes home with a ribbon of some sort.
Guzzo said the event is very valuable in the development of the students and provides many different benefits.
"It's an important event because it's an organized meet that's a way for our kids to compete on a level playing field," she said.
Fifth-grader Jessica Pierson of Salem Elementary proudly displayed her ribbon around her neck all day after she was won a second-place award.
"I got a red ribbon for the softball throw," she said.
"I like coming here because I like softball and I like to win."
Pierson also participates in the Special Olympics and goes to many meets during the year.
According to her teacher, Sherrie Sauko, Pierson loves winning ribbons and hamming it up after a race.
"She's really a good athlete and her parents keep her very active,' she said. "But she really loves the crowd."
Sauko said that while it is fun to win, that's not the point of the day.
"It doesn't matter what color ribbon you get," she told Pierson.
"It just matters that you tried hard."
Other schools which participated in the meet were Avalon, Clinton, Colerain, Como, Cranbrook, Georgian Heights, Huy, Indian Springs, Pilgrim, South Mifflin, Stockbridge and Winterset elementary schools.