CANNONSBURG —When Ashley Robinson was born, she weighed a pound and 11 ounces — at the time, the smallest baby born at King’s Daughters Medical Center who survived. Her arrival was even featured on the front page of The Independent.
On Thursday, the 20-year-old competed in a run and a bean-bag toss during Track and Field Day for special needs students at Boyd County High School.
Robinson’s grandparents, Herschel and Jean Robinson of Ashland, were in the stands to cheer her on.
“She spent three months in Children’s Hospital in Columbus,” Mrs. Robinson said. “She’s done so well. We’re really proud of her.”
Although not affiliated with Special Olympics, the Track and Field Day borrowed some ideas from those games, plus added fun just for fun’ sake, like sack races, wheelchair races and body bowling, Tina Ward said. She and Geoff Stewart, who are complex needs teachers at Boyd County High School, oversee the games, which were a first for the school district.
“They were very excited about the event,” Ward said. “Some of these students have been training for the past three months for their event.
It was a warm, sunny day for the event, which included continuous dance music, visits from clowns, face painting, balloons and snacks.
About 50 students from Boyd County High School, Boyd Middle School, Cannonsburg Elementary and Ponderosa Elementary School participated in the games, including Adam Meade, 19, a senior at Boyd County High School.
He said he didn’t train for the races he participated in because he likes to exercise and stays in shape all the time.
Meade, who early in the day won a second-place medal in the 50-meter dash, served as one of the torch carriers and had the honor of lighting the torch at the opening ceremonies.
“The students voted for who would light the torch,” the son of Paul and Kimberly Adams of Catlettsburg said, adding he is very involved and knows many people, which could account for his winning the honor.
“I’m having fun,” he said. “I think I’ll be real tired at the end of the day.”
Carla Malone, complex needs teacher at Ponderosa, said the day wasn’t just about fun and games. It was also about opportunity.
“This gives them a chance to do track and field events because they can’t compete with their peers,” she said.
Photos
Boyd County High School student Christin Lemaster throws a beanbag at the Track and Field event for Boyd County schools special needs students, Thursday. She won a first place medal for her best of three throws.Kevin Goldy/The Independent(Click for larger image)
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