MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois football attended the McDonough County Special Recreation Association (MCSRA) Special Olympics track practice on Sunday (March 26). Student-athletes and coaches warmed up with the athletes on the track, helped measure throws, timed events and offered encouragement to fellow athletes preparing for competition.

Special Olympic track throwing events include the shot put, tennis ball throw and softball throw. There are also running and walking events ranging from 25-meters to a mile and motorized wheel chair races.

According to football head coach Mark Hendrickson, working with this group of athletes has been a very positive experience. 

"The Leatherneck football student-athletes know that they receive a lot of support from the Macomb community, so any time that they have an opportunity to give back they will," Hendrickson said. "There was a lot of laughter, a lot of communication and a lot of excitement from both groups. I would say that the players that were here may have a little more desire to play to the best of their abilities after seeing these Special Olympic athletes put forth the effort that they did today. We hope that each Sunday we can get another group here to experience it."

The Leathernecks will continue to attend the group's training practices on Sunday afternoons at Macomb High School in the weeks leading up to the District Tournament in Monmouth, Ill. on May 4. Athletes who win a gold medal in the tournament can move on to the State Tournament held in Bloomington, Illl. in June.

"The fact that the football players were willing to come out and walk a track with our athletes meant the world to them," Macomb Park District Special Olympics Association Director Rachel Lenz said. "Some of the younger kids that we work with got to meet these big football players who play for a college. That was really neat for them. I know there is a little boy who dreams of playing football, so him getting to meet these football players was just huge for him. It's a big deal and it means a lot to our athletes."