Athletes with disabilities compete at Collier Special Olympics

"They're very good," said Behnke, a Barron Collier High School adaptive physical education teacher, as the teens prepared to make their dash. "Pedro will be going hard."

Behnke predicts the race — one of many at Saturday's Special Olympics of Collier County summer games at Barron Collier — will be close. And he is correct: Pedro barely beats Kendo. But Kendo showed no sadness. He was happy he almost tied with Pedro, he said.

"Pedro's pretty fast," Kendo said afterwards.

"Even if an athlete loses," Behnke said of the Special Olympics competitors, "they aren't down on their knees and disappointed. They feel great. They tried their hardest."

About 35 athletes with disabilities, ages 12 to 60, competed in the event. They took on track races, tennis matches, games of bocce and gymnastics. Stuffing the stands and sidelines to cheer for them were many more volunteers from area high schools and the community.

The athletes trained for about a month and a half to compete, said Behnke, also the competition director for Collier's Special Olympics. Some athletes compete in the same events annually; others stretch to meet new challenges.

Sometimes, Behnke said, it almost feels as though he's out there with them as they compete.

"I know how to communicate with them," he said. "I know how to keep them enjoying what they're doing."

Jade Ward, a junior at Barron Collier, has volunteered at the event since her freshman year, she said. A member of Key Club, a school civic group, Jade is also a Barron Collier track team member.

"It's such a great experience," Jade said of volunteering at the Special Olympics, "just to see the unconditional love and joy. It's rewarding. It puts things in perspective."

While some of the track events were more traditional — such as Pedro and Kendo's 100-meter run — others were more tailored to the needs of the special athletes, such as the motorized wheelchair slalom. Some athletes participated with a bit of volunteer assistance; others competed alone, but with nearby shows of support.

Many of the races were short in length because some of the athletes can't manage longer stretches, Behnke said.

For the athletes, the Special Olympics are a time when they can feel a surge of self-confidence and try their best, said Lisette Wynn, the event's track and field head coach. Often, self-confidence is a foreign idea to the athletes, and they may not reach their potential without the encouragement the event provides, Wynn said.

"It's showing them they can do things," Wynn said. "They are special athletes. Special, in that they're wonderful people."

People often tell Wynn the athletes are lucky to have her as a coach; she promised it is the opposite.

"They need us and we need them," Wynn said of the athletes.