On May 26-30, 2021, two University of Michigan athletes traveled to Mesa, Arizona, to compete in the Desert Challenge Games. Leo Merle and Cathryn Gray competed alongside hundreds of participants ranging from ages 10 to 64. Participants competed in track and field, archery, swimming and air rifle events.
Leo and Cathryn are both track and field athletes. Leo competes in the 1500 meter run and Cathryn competes in the 100 meter dash, shot put, javelin throw, and discus throw. Cathryn stated, “my events went really well, I set new personal records in the shot put, the 100 meter dash and the discus.”
At the competition, athletes from all over the United States come together to compete and race against each other. Leo commented on the atmosphere and said, “it is much more friendly, it is much more open. It seems that there is less stress on it which is a nice shift from regular athletics.” Both of the athletes said it was unique to meet so many other people with physical disabilities in an athletic setting. Cathryn said she enjoyed meeting a younger girl who also has CP because she thought it was really cool to meet a younger girl who was so passionate about adaptive track and field at 10 years old when she didn’t start till she was 13.
Both athletes are excited to see the program continue to grow in the future and hope to get more students involved who have a disability. Thanks in part to the work of the Adaptive Sports and Fitness Program, Leo competed in the 1500 meter dash at the US Trials Race on June 17-20 in Minneapolis for the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo!
