Blind Twins Accept a New Challenge; Track Competition

Blind Twins Accept a New Challenge; Track Competition

Future Reflections Winter/Spring 1998, Vol. 17 No. 1
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Blind Twins Accept A New

Challenge:

Track Competition

by John Hunt
Reprinted from the Chattanooga Free Press,

Tuesday, April 2, 1998.

Coach Gerald Williams is a busy man these days.

He's a teacher at Ooltewah Middle School and that gives him plenty to do, but after school

he deals with almost a hundred kids who want to be part of the highly successful track

program.

April and Amanda Jones are just two young ladies

who have a strong desire to help the team. They are 12-year-old twins who are in the sixth

grade. They've never been involved in track and field before, and it's a tremendous

challenge for them.

More of a challenge for them, in fact, than for

their teammates as cold, rainy days change to sunny and

pleasant ones in which just being outside is a blessing of its

own.

You see, April and Amanda are both blind and need

assistance when they do their workouts.

Being unable to see hasn't slowed them down,

though. If anything, they are eager to do what it takes to do something they've never done

before.

"Something like this is completely new to

me, but I'm here to give them a chance to compete and to participate in a team

atmosphere." he explained recently.

"Originally it was Amanda, but April decided

she wanted to run too. So far, our biggest problem has been finding them a guide.=20 They

have to have a guide so they will know where to go. But they just want to compete and

that's what's important."

"You know how it is with kids. They want to

be outside in the spring when the weather is nice," Williams added. "But I'm

excited that they want to participate."

"We have a lot of kids on this team, but we

have exhibition races on the days we have meets, and you can bet that they will have a

race every time we compete."

There isn't a track facility at Ooltewah Middle,

but the team works out at the high school. It can be a very busy place with lots of

activity taking place at the same time, which does concern Williams in regard to the Jones

twins.

"One of my biggest concerns is their

safety," the coach said. "There are so many people on the track at the same

time, but it will be interesting."

"We'll just take it day by day and see what

happens. And I'm sure the other kids will help out all they can."

"They will be a good example for other kids,

and it will bring our group closer together," he predicted. "But we just want

them to enjoy it and to have fun."

Amanda has done some running before, but not in a

formal setting. She wants to compete, against her sister if nobody else.

"I've always enjoyed running, and I want to

increase my endurance." she said. "I've tried out before but didn't make the

team. And exhibition races are better than no race at all."

"We want to compete against each

other," she said, issuing a challenge to April.

It's been a totally new experience for April, but

one that has been positive thus far.

"I've found out that running is fun,

although my legs are sore," she admitted. "It's a little scary being out there

for the first time. I don't know exactly where I'm going, but I just wish I could run

faster."

Amanda and April are typical sixth grade girls.

They are both members of the Chattanooga Girls Choir, and they do other things young

people like to do. They ride bikes and roller blade and even ice skate.

Track is just the latest on their list of new

things to try. Would you like to help them out by being a part-time guide? They train

about two hours every afternoon and would love anyone's assistance. If interested, call

Coach Williams at Ooltewah Middle School.