TRAINING PAYS OFF FOR SPECIAL OLYMPIAN

It was the moment Lettie Winston had trained for all year.

Through the first and second calls for the 100 meter dash, she sat in her chair calmly. After the final call, however, she stood up and began asking other athletes who would be racing in the heat for women 29 and older.

Finally, Lettie, 36, and two other athletes took their places on the track. The starting pistol sounded, and they all ran as fast as they could towards the finish line. The other athletes' faces were stern with concentration, but Lettie smiled all the way, pausing only long enough to snatch off a paper number that flew into her face.

"I feel good. I'm tired, but I could run another race right now," said Lettie after accepting her third gold medal Saturday afternoon. She was one of some 300 athletes competing in the Southeast Missouri Area Special Olympics contest held at Central High School Track.

Special Olympics events are held at the local, state and national levels to provide mentally or developmentally disabled people of all ages an opportunity to compete in athletic events. Participants compete in athletic heats based upon age, gender and training scores. Each Special Olympics event is set up so that everyone goes home with a medal or ribbon.

Athletes practiced throughout the year to prepare for running, jumping and throwing competitions in one or more of the 13 local track and field events Saturday. Other Special Olympic events are held in specific seasons year-round.

Event organizer Penny Williams, a recreation supervisor with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said Lettie is a good example of why the Special Olympics are held year after year.

"That's just a prime example of how Special Olympics is for all ages," she said. "She's definitely become more out-going and more expressive."

Lettie first began competing in the Special Olympics last year, when she had first place finishes in the running long jump, softball throw and 100-meter dash. She also won gold in all three events at the statewide contest at Fort Leonard Wood, a feat she has every intention of repeating next month.

"That second place, third place, I don't want none of that," she said. "First place, that's my thing."

Trainer Theresa Leggett said Lettie enjoys cross-training with activities that include basketball, walking and riding her bicycle. She also makes regular visits to the Osage Centre to walk and lift weights. It was during a training session that Lettie decided to try the shot put rather than the softball throw "because it wasn't a challenge for her," Leggett said.

Such decisions reflect the type of progress desired for all Special Olympians, Williams said.

"If they can do the shot put, they don't need to be in the softball throw. If they can run the 100-meters, they don't need to be in the 50," she said. "We try to keep them challenged."

Although her family wasn't present for the event, a special friend, Cassell Wiseman, and his niece were on hand to cheer Lettie on. Wiseman said Lettie's participation in the Special Olympics have transformed her from an extremely shy person to someone who regularly socializes with others.

"I think she enjoys this most of anything," he said. "It's good for her. It's good for all these guys here."