MONTROSE – Norwood School students Bailey Sherwood and Kaleb Barcellos participated in the fifth annual Special Olympics Track Meet at Montrose High School on April 18. Chris Wilke of Nucla also participated. All three brought home ribbons, along with proud, smiling faces.

“I wasn’t nervous,” said Sherwood, who traveled to the meet with her father, David Sherwood of Ouray, and her sister Sam. The seventh grader brought home three ribbons – second for the 200-meter run and two thirds for the 100-meter dash and the softball throw. She also competed in the running long jump.

Barcellos had an equally successful day, tying for first place in the 50-meter walk and taking home second place in the softball throw. Like Sherwood, he also competed in the running long jump, only to lose his shoe on his second jump.

“I joked with him that he jumped straight out of his shoe,” said Norwood High School science teacher Nancy Wells, who accompanied the second grader at the track meet. “I just happen to like track and I have free Saturdays,” quipped Wells, but it was the phone call from Barcellos asking her to come with him that sealed the date.

“I gave him a ride down and cheered him on. He was just a chatterbox the whole way down,” she said. “It was a fun day, I’m glad I went.”

Each year the Montrose/Olathe Schools’ special education departments invite students throughout the region to participate in the Montrose Special Olympics Track Meet. Some go on to compete at other regional track events.

“There are a couple of extra kids that could have gone this year and hopefully will do it next year,” said Wells.

Both Barcellos and Sherwood credit their success at the meet to their PE activities with Steve Snook.