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MIDDLETOWN — "Three of them," Savanna Flowers said with satisfaction as she admired the gold, silver and bronze medals hanging around her neck. "One for jumping and two for racing."

Savanna, a second-grader at Amanda Elementary School, was just one of 230 children from across the district who tossed, ran, walked and rolled their way to the winner's podium Friday, May 16, at the Middletown City Schools Special Olympic Track and Field Day.

The festivities kicked off at 9:15 a.m. with a torch relay around the track at Middletown High School.

Middletown police and firefighters handed out medals and posed for pictures with the winners.

At times it was hard to tell who was having more fun, the kids or the adults.

"The joy on these kids faces — it's amazing,' said Middletown police Maj. David VanArsdale.

"If you want to know about heart look at this," said firefighter Karl Gaston as he watched a race. "These kids are loving it. You can't measure what these kids do."

A little wind trouble wasn't enough to stop Nathan Berry, a seventh-grader at Stephen Vail Middle School, who lit the track on fire during the day's final event, a 4 by 100 relay around the oval.

"The wind caught onto my hat and blew it off," Nathan said. "I should have had it taped to my head."

"I came in first," he said as he high-fived his teacher Becky Hopewell.

"They have a great time," Hopewell said of her students. "It means a lot to them."

Cody Brewer, an eighth-grader at Verity Middle School, took home medals in the wheelchair race and softball toss.

"I got first place," Cody said. "You should have seen me. I just took off flying."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwells@coxohio.com.

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