Iowa track pioneers open doors for para athletes
Ambulatory athletes competed at the state meet for the first time
Iowa City West sophomore Hannah Longmire slipped on her prosthetic limbs and glided around the Drake Stadium track this past week at the state meet.
To some observers, they’re called “blades” for the ski-shaped bases that allow her to race at a speedy pace.
The 16-year-old has a different name for them.
“I call them my legs, because that’s what they are,” Longmire said.
This year’s meet welcomed the first group of ambulatory para athletes — high school competitors that are able to run or throw without the use of a wheelchair.
Iowa City West’s Hannah Longmire is one of the first Iowa high school para ambulatory runners to compete at the state track meet. (Photo by John Naughton.)
Wheelchair athletes have competed in the state track and field meet since the early 1990s. The Iowa High School Athletic Association began the first state boys’ wheelchair team title in 2003.
But the ambulatory division of state track athletes is different. The competitors — two girls and four boys qualified — comprised of students with a variety of disabilities. Some are visually impaired, others have prosthetic limbs, and others have special conditions that may not be apparent to fans in the stands.
Waukon’s Ethan Kelly, a senior, was born with a heart condition that required surgery when he was six days old. He was left with nerve damage, making it harder to run and breathe.
Kelly has run all four years of high school, but he was never able to qualify for state until this spring.
Waukon’s Ethan Kelly had a chance to compete at the state track meet this year, thanks to the addition of ambulatory para events. (Photo by John Naughton.)
Yet he was able to step onto the victory stand in three events this week — the boys’ ambulatory 100 meters, 200 and shot put.
“It’s really special,” Kelly said. “I’m just feeling included.”
Davenport Central’s TayVeona Thomas-Everett, an athlete who runs along a guide runner for visually impaired competitors, drew cheers as she finished second in the 200 meters. She slowed down to a walking pace midway through the race, encouraged to complete the event by the crowd.
Davenport Central’s TayVeona Thomas-Everett (left) celebrates on the victory stand after competing in the state track meet Saturday. (Photo by John Naughton.)
State meet announcer Mike Jay let out of booming voice: “You can do it, TayVeona!”
She finished the race.
“I feel very happy,” Thomas-Everett said.
The meet drew a crowd of more than 39,000 fans at the meet, the nation’s largest state high school track championship.
The wheelchair events drew four girls and boys to the qualifying standards this week.
Both the boys’ Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union jointly made the move to ambulatory state events.
The organizations had received inquiries about participation from athletes who had disabilities but did not use a wheelchair to compete in track, according to Madison Melchert, an assistant director of the Girls Union.
“We thought we could celebrate everyone who wanted to be involved,” said Melchert, who oversees track and field for the Union.
Madison Melchert, an assistant director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. (Photo by John Naughton.)
In recent years, the Drake Relays added para events to its meet. So why not high school meets held on the same track?
Melchert, a former state high school distance champion, said the decision was meaningful to her.
“Track and field has been to me an opportunity for all,” Melchert said.
The state meet includes athletes from all 99 Iowa counties.
“It’s really a celebration of Iowa,” Melchert said.
Iowa City West’s Hannah Longmire won the state girls’ track meet 800-meter ambulatory para race Friday at Drake Stadium. (Photo by John Naughton.)
Hannah Longmire said she was born without hands and with just one foot, which was amputated when she was young.
She is a competitive person and sampled a variety of sports, including lacrosse, rowing, biking, swimming and soccer.
“I tried out a number of sports, and track really stood out to me,” Longmire said.
She was inspired by para athletes like Hunter Woodhall (a college and international runner) and Northern Iowa discus thrower Jessica Heims.
When she was born with serious disabilities, she feared she’d be stuck at home. But she pushed herself to succeed.
She won four state meet races.
“I never knew I’d be the person I looked up to,” Longmire said.
Hannah Longmire of Iowa City West poses with her state track championship pennant after winning the inaugural girls’ ambulatory para 800 meters Friday at Drake Stadium. (Photo by John Naughton.)
Waukon’s Kelly was happy to have the chance to compete at state as a senior.
“I know it was my last chance to do something important and leave my mark,” Kelly said.
Part of that importance goes beyond the track. Kelly, Longmire and others may inspire younger athletes (and non-athletes) who can determine that they, too, can reach for goals.
“I really hope this whole event inspires someone to come out and compete, or to try something new,” Kelly said.
Great read
Thank you for this great story, John. Another one!