Sports : V-S Special Olympics athletes compete in Cedar Rapids

Shelby Arp carries the torch at the beginning of the Special Olympics Regional at Coe College.

Steven Schmitz was one of 26 V-S competitors; here he competes in running long jump.

Dani Koopman competes in long jump; she also won 50M dash.

Vinton athletes watch as Special Olympics torch is lit at Coe College.

The VSHS girls track team members were volunteers assisting the V-S Special Olympians.ns

The Vinton-Shellsburg Special Olympics team sent 26 competitors to the Regional meet at Coe College this weekend and came home with 19 first place wins.

The team will attend the Iowa Special Olympics event in May at Iowa State, and those 19 first place winners will compete in Ames.

Also competing from the area were several others, including the Cedar Valley Ranch, the Iowa Braille School and Vinton Independent, which included the Young family.

Volunteers assisting the local athletes included the members of the Vinton-Shellburg girls track team as well as several AmeriCorps volunteers who reside on the campus at the Iowa Braille School.

Click here for a link to coach Brian Larkin's Facebook page with more information and photos.