'Everybody wins' at Special Olympics track meet in Mount Prospect

Victories were measured in the smiles of parents in the bleachers, the excitement in the faces of the athletes and the high standard of sportsmanship set by all at the Special Olympics Illinois Region B Spring Games last weekend at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect.

More than 1,000 athletes competed Saturday and Sunday in track and field events in which winning and losing took a back seat to the joy of participating and the achievement of personal milestones.

On a sunny Sunday, Lori and Ken Jensen of Spring Grove cheered on their 19-year-old daughter Anna, who has dealt with challenges that far surpass anything she encountered in Special Olympics competition.

Born with Down syndrome, she was on a feeding tube until she was 6, has had a heart-lung bypass and has faced off with leukemia. But Anna has prevailed and has been participating in Special Olympics for four years.

"It makes your heart race a little bit. We always have fun no matter what she does," Lori Jensen said of watching Anna compete. "Everybody wins."

Rosie Manzella of Wheeling watched her son, 40-year-old Domiano Manzella, compete in the 100-meter walk on behalf of the Center on Deafness in Northbrook. She said she relishes the joy on his face when he takes part in "events that he doesn't have the opportunity (ordinarily) to be in."

"He has got a great spirit," she added. "He enters a room and he lights up the room."

Domiano, communicating through sign language, said he loves to walk, but enjoys more the chance to help people and interact with his teammates.

Julie Leeney, a physical education teacher in Mount Prospect Elementary District 57, attended with a team of athletes from Lincoln Middle School and Lions Park School.

"It's their favorite part of the year. They look forward to this all year long," she said.

Region B serves nearly 3,000 athletes in McHenry, Lake and northern Cook counties.