Matt sticks his two thumbs up in the air, waving them like flags as he finishes the race in last place. His broad smile makes it look like he has just won a million dollars.

“You should have seen me out there,” he said. “I burned the track up — I think it’s on fire.”

Matt Hamilton, 38, did not win first place, but it doesn’t matter to him. He is an Olympian, and he made it this far.

He shuffles over to the four lined up boxes, the one farthest to the left is the tallest. There the winner stands, smiling just as broadly as Matt did. Matt stands on the lowest box, one space between him and the runner that received second place.

Matt has made it through his last practice, a long day of racing and cheering, and now he has finished his portion of the Special Olympics. He receives his medal, as a volunteer praises him in the background.

The announcements of who is running is drowned out between the cheering at the winners’ boxes and the races continuing in the background. After stepping off of his box, Matt disappears into the hustle-bustle of the other athletes and their fans.

Jenni Sillman, program coordinator of the Arc of Story County, spends a good portion of her spring planning for this day. She works with people who are mentally handicapped every day in her job and has helped the Arc with Special Olympics for three years.

She said medals and ribbons, like the medal Hamilton received, means the world to the athletes.

“Some people wear them all year,” she said. “All of [their medals].”

Sillman spent the day on the sidelines cheering on athletes and making sure they were where they need to be. She has helped these athletes train for the Special Olympics for months.

Alvin Ravenscroft, 69, is only here for one day. He is one of many volunteers, some from Iowa schools and the community.

He has volunteered at the Special Olympics for three years.

Ravenscroft usually has the difficult job of head finish judge. He decides who wins the race and disqualifies any athlete if necessary. This year he is just a spectator because there was a miscommunication as to who was head finish judge, he said.

He said he volunteers at most indoor track and field events because he is trying to give back to the sport that gave him so much. Ravenscroft said track kept him in school.

Every race he watches is an inspiration to him, he said.

“It makes my complaints seem pretty ridiculous,” Ravenscroft said. “The dedication and motivation for these people to come out [despite the] challenges for them [is an inspiration].”