Story and photos by Amy Newcomb
GUIDON staff
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Nearly 200 athletes representing 16 area schools, agencies and groups competed in the Special Olympics-Missouri Regional Games hosted by the 787th Military Police Battalion and the Waynesville School District on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Mark Inch, U.S. Army Military Police School commandant, led the opening ceremonies that kicked off the Special Olympics events.

“We are so honored and proud to have you here. I want you to just look around from where you are standing — this is where we train young men and women to defend our nation. This is where we instill them with the Army Values that carry them through the challenges that are ahead of them,” Inch said in his address to athletes. “There was one Army Value they already expressed before they ever came here and that was personal courage, and when I look at you I see the exact same thing.”

“We look forward to watching you compete, and I want you to enjoy the competition,” Inch added. “Welcome to Fort Leonard Wood, and I hope you have a great day even if it is cold.”

Events consisted of the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash/ walk, standing and running long jumps, softball and Turbo Jav throw, shot put, 1,500-meter run, 800-meter walk and relays.

Wesley Dorothy, an athlete from Waynesville, said he almost couldn’t decide which event he liked best because he was having so much fun. However, he decided the Turbo Jav might be his favorite, because he thought it resembled the game of darts.

“I think the ball throw is my favorite or the one with the blue things (Turbo Jav) you can throw,” Dorothy said. “(Turbo Jav) — it’s my favorite.”

Prior to the opening ceremony for the games, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Waynesville Police Department, the U.S. Army Military Police School, the 14th Military Police Brigade and the 787th MP Bn. participated in a torch run on Fort Leonard Wood.

The torch was handed off to Staff Sgt. Lesley Lehman, 14th MP Bde., and six athletes representing various schools, who led the formation around the 787th MP Bn. track.

During the opening ceremonies, Lt. Col. Randall Thrash, 787th MP Bn. commander, said the partnership that Fort Leonard Wood has with the Waynesville School District is not only about education, but also about friendship.

“(Special Olympics) is just one example of the two (organizations) getting together to do something,” Thrash said. “The school is all about training our next generation of citizens. We are all about training our next generation of Soldiers, so we absolutely have a lot in common. What better venue to host good, healthy competition than right here, where many kids start their entrance into our Army.”

Courtney Long, Waynesville High School principal, thanked Thrash and the Soldiers for helping Waynesville have a venue for this year’s events.

“As many of you know we are under construction at our current stadium, and we don’t want to lose this event. It is our pleasure to host this event annually,” Long said. “It’s one of the highlights of our year … we really appreciate (787th MP Bn.) loaning us their facilities while we are under construction.”