A Victory for Visually Impaired Athletes

The obstacle course was tough by any standards, with a wall to scale and tires to run through. But the athletes who competed Saturday had an even greater challenge: They could see neither the course nor the finish line.

And when they reached the chest-high rope that marked the finish, some weren’t sure how to react.

“That’s because they’ve never seen someone run through a winning rope,” said Optimist Club of Chatsworth volunteer Ronald Hammond, as he chanted, “Arms up, arms up” to the young athletes who pulled through the victory line.

Visually impaired participants competed in the 29th annual Braille Institute-Optimist Clubs Track and Field Olympics, held each year at Braille Institute’s Cahuenga Boulevard campus. The contest attracted about 300 participants ages 6 through 19 from California and elsewhere.

Events included the shotput, the 50-yard dash, the long jump and the obstacle course. All competitors got trophies, and those who placed first, second or third in their events also got medals.

Cinthya and Berenice Quijada, 8-year-old twins, finished the obstacle course with competitive times of 50 and 54 seconds, respectively. Before they trotted off to have lunch, they said their favorite obstacle was the high wall--to be scaled with a rope and assistance from volunteers.

The girls’ father, Sergio Quijada, of Riverside County, was especially proud because, he said, the girls don’t usually run around outdoors. He also said his girls felt part of a bigger group Saturday.

“Sometimes they think they’re the only ones in this world with a [vision] problem,” he said.

All over the Braille Institute campus, parents and coaches said, “Go!” and “Come on!” as their teams, arranged by age level, made their way through the events.

Some sang along to music that promoted the you-can-do-this energy with such inspirational songs as the 1979 Gloria Gaynor hit “I Will Survive.”

Competitor Jerry Albaugh, 18, of Utah, who has attended the competition for nine years, said his favorite event was the high jump, because “I have long legs. It comes naturally.

“We’re not competing with sighted people,” he said, explaining why he attends the event year after year. “It’s kind of like a family reunion.”

For 15-year Optimist Club volunteer Dara Laski, the best part is watching as the participants grow.

“Some will feel your face, and they can tell [who you are] by your bone structure and voice,” Laski said. “They recognize you.”