Monmouth's Sunny Lane Athletic Field to Host Over 180 Special Olympics Athletes
MONMOUTH — Families, volunteers, and spectators are invited to cheer on all Special Olympics Illinois athletes as they compete in the 2022 Region F Spring Games.
The annual event will be held on Sat., May 7 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Region F Spring Games at Sunny Lane Athletic Field (438 S. Sunnylane, Monmouth).
Approximately 180 athletes are expected to compete in track and field, the most popular of 18 sports offered by Special Olympics Illinois. Athletes will compete in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500 meter races, standing and running long jumps; shot put; tennis and softball throw; 100-, 400- and 800-meter walk races; wheelchair competitions and assisted races.
To compete in the Special Olympics Illinois Region F Spring Games, athletes must train for eight weeks. Athletes who win a gold medal at the Region F games qualify to compete in the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games which will be held June 17-19, 2022 on the Illinois State University campus in Normal. More than 4,000 athletes from around the state are expected to compete in Summer Games.
Also this June, 106 Special Olympics Illinois athletes, Unified Partners, coaches and staff will travel to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida ,as part of Team Illinois (#TeamSOILL). Included on #TeamSOILL is Special Olympics Illinois athlete Ean Yerbic who will compete in Region F Spring Games.
Ean, of Canton, has competed with Special Olympics for 12 years in basketball and track and field. He is also a member of Club Unify.
"Special Olympics allowed me to spend time with friends and participate in the sports I enjoyed playing,” Ean said. “I’m proud of winning gold medals at state basketball, participating in athletics, and winning leadership awards.”
To learn more about Spring Games or #TeamSOILL visit www.soill.org.
About Special Olympics Illinois
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and over 9,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support.
If you are interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or online at www.soill.org. Follow Special Olympics Illinois on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Illinois Region F
Special Olympics Illinois Region F provides programming for over 800 athletes in the counties of Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, and Warren. For more information about Region F visit soill.org/regionf/.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Special Olympics spring games in May
