Blind athletes go for the gold at Perkins

Watertown TAB, May 22, 2008
By Jillian Fennimore, staff writer

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WATERTOWN - They can run fast, throw far and jump high.

And the fact that they can’t see doesn’t seem to slow them down.

Over the weekend, cheers from the track and field at Watertown’s Perkins School for the Blind could be heard from the parking lot as athletes from six states came to compete in the 62nd annual Eastern Athletic Association for the Blind Track and Field Tournament.

From the 50-yard dash and the mile run, to the softball throw and the high jump, the blind and visually impaired athletes put their skills to the test and their spirits on display.

Perkins students wore their blue “Towerhawks” jerseys — a team name created from the family of hawks that swarms the campus’ signature tower — as they competed against fellow students from schools in Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Philadelphia and West Virginia.

Sprinters clutched a cable to guide them down the track. Distance runners were linked to sighted runners as their made their rounds. Long jumpers listened to their coach’s directions as they went for their markers.

Perkins track coach Jim McNiff took over the loudspeaker, emceeing the day’s events. According to a press release, 20 Perkins students trained for the meet.

“It’s about what these young people can do, not about their disabilities,” McNiff said. “Ability counts, of course, but attitude plays a big role. You’ve got to be there, work for it.”

At the end of the event on Saturday, all athletes received a medal and were praised for their efforts. A dance was also planned for their accomplishments, allowing students to socialize after the successful two-day event.