Wapakoneta, Ohio -
More than two thousand students from 68 of Ohio's 88 counties will come together this weekend for the Special Olympics Ohio State Summer Games. Before they make their travels to Columbus, area athletes still have a few more practices to complete.
60 Auglaize County athletes, aged 8 to 80, gathered Monday night at Wapakoneta Middle School to practice their mini javelin throw, softball toss and to run and walk before this weekends big events.
Suffering from spina bifida and dwarfism, 14-year-old Katie Pleiman will go up against other mentally and/or physically disabled kids, as she throws javelin and runs the 50 yard dash. In her first year of competition, Katie's push came from the support of her father.
While Katie takes part in the event for the first time, Auglaize County Coordinator David Axe celebrates 21 years, and says the excitement on the athletes faces, never goes away.
If you would like to see all of the athletes competing in the state competition, the Summer Games will begin Friday at 2:15PM at the Jessie Owens stadium in Columbus.
