<< Previous   of   Next >> Contributed photo  (click to enlarge) Allison McAfee,16, far right, will represent the state in track and field during the National Special Olympics in Lincoln, Neb. this summer. McAfee attends both Lynnwood and Old Woodway high schools in the Edmonds School Distrcit and is a member of the Edmonds Schools Special Olympics team. Contributed photo  (click to enlarge) Allison McAfee,16, will represent the state in track and field during the National Special Olympics in Lincoln, Neb. this summer. McAfee attends both Lynnwood and Old Woodway high schools in the Edmonds School District and is a member of the Edmonds Schools Special Olympics team.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Local teen a Special Olympian

By Katie Murdoch
Enterprise editor

BOTHELL — An athlete from the Edmonds School District will represent the state during the Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games this summer.

Allison McAfee, 16, was one of 28 student athletes across the state chosen to compete in the Games July 18-23 in Lincoln, Neb. Mc- Afee will compete in the shot put, 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash.

An earlier fundraiser organized by local law enforcement agencies will cover McAfee's travel expenses, outfits for opening and closing ceremonies and athletic gear.

Head coach Becki Bell said it's awesome to have one of her athletes chosen to compete.

“It's pretty cool. It's wonderful to even have this happen at all,” Bell said.

Bell said McAfee is the first student from the Edmonds School District's Special Olympics team to compete nationally during her 25 years coaching in the district.

McAfee will meet her teammates during the state Summer Games, to be held June 4-6 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. More than 2,500 athletes will represent more than 240 teams from across the state.

McAfee, a sophomore, splits her day between Lynnwood and Old Woodway high schools. Outside of school, McAfee attends track and field practice twice per week. On the weekends she works on the directional staff loading cruise ships at Pier 66 in Seattle.

McAfee has microcephaly, a condition where the circumference of a child's head is smaller compared to their peers because their brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing.

When she was an infant, McAfee's doctors told her parents she would never speak.

At 3 years old, Allison proved them wrong.

Last year, McAfee competed at the state track and field tournament where she earned one silver and two gold medals. It was her first season. Her gold medals put McAfee in the running for the national games. Approximately 300 qualifying athletes' names were drawn from a hat. The list whittled down as students who couldn't afford to go or travel stepped out of the running. Then McAfee's name was drawn.

Carrie McAfee, her mother, said these types of opportunities don't always come along when a child has physical needs and struggles with everyday tasks.

School is hard for her daughter, but sports offer an escape to have fun, Carrie McAfee said.

“It gives her a chance to shine at her level,” she said.

McAfee said she's excited to compete nationally.

“I feel anxious when I'm waiting, (but) when I'm running I just want to zoom,” she wrote in an e-mail.

Bell, the coach, said Mc- Afee always has a smile on her face and loyally cheers her teammates on.

“All the kids really, really like her,” Bell said. “We care about her and it's helped her blossom.”

After competing at nationals, McAfee likely will come back a changed person, Bell said.

“This next endeavor will make her blossom even more,” she said.

The Edmonds Special Olympics team is offered to 14- to 21-year-old students with special needs who live in the Edmonds School District. There are approximately 30-40 students on the team per year.

The program gives students with special needs the opportunity to belong to a team and learn camaraderie, Bell said.

“It's a real sense of accomplishment,” she said. “They don't get that many venues in school or in life to feel that.”