Garvacio, like almost all the other athletes at the Special Olympics 2018 North Central Spring Games, not only gave it everything he had in him, he also wore a big smile the whole length of the race.

His only distraction was about halfway down the lane when he looked into the bleachers and saw the cheering crowd — it made him go even faster.

After the race, he attributed his success to one thing, though.

“My speed,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Angel Garvacio, 10, a fift-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, powers towards a first place finish in his heat Thursday morning during the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field competition in Dodger Stadium.

His efforts paid off. The results were pretty decisive.

“I was in first place,” he said.

Thursday’s event had students from about 15 school districts competing.

Gina Monroe, a teacher at Stratford Elementary School, cheered on one of her students, Colton Pedtly, 8, a second-grader.

She said it was his first Special Olympics experience.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Stratford teacher Gina Monroe is all smiles as she watches her student, Colton Pedtly, 8, compete Thursday morning at the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field competition in Dodger Stadium.

She likes what the program offers the athletes.

“They get to just be one of the kids here,” she said. “They get to show everyone that it’s their day.”

As she watched Pedtly go from starting line to finish line, she was not only nervous, but also feeling pure joy.

“Absolutely,” she said.

Shelby Choate, 9, a third-grader at Sunset Heights Elementary School in Webster City, said her time in one of the foot races might have been just a fraction faster except for one thing.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Shelby Choate, 9, a third-grade student at Sunset Heights Elementary School in Webster City runs toward the finish line Thursday morning at the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field competition in Dodger Stadium.

“My foot started hurting,” she said.

She’s been getting ready for the racing for awhile.

“I run around the track at the high school,” she said.

She was enjoying her day for a lot of reasons, including the variety of activities.

“We do a lot of games,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Zoey Wacttotz, 10, a third-grader at Cooper Elementary School, even with her sign upside down, still cheers on her classmatte Jayden Stanley Thursday morning during the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field competition in Dodger Stadium.

Wendy Bryan, a paraprofessional at Sunset Heights Elementary School in Webster City, was along to root for her students like Choate.

“It makes them feel really great,” she said. “It’s a huge self esteem boost. They take great pride in representing their school.”

A track meet with hundreds of students participating needs lots of volunteers to make everything run smoothly.

Leah Thompson, 18, a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High, was among those.

“I love mentoring kids and helping people,” she said. “It’s a great feeling.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Leah Thompson, 18, a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High, keeps an eye on her runner Thursday morning while volunteering at the Special Olympics Regional Track and Field competition in Dodger Stadium.

Her jobs at the meet including serving as a timer for the races and then later, measuring throws in the shot put.

She was going to have a long day of it.

“I have a soccer game later on,” she said. “I won’t get home till around 11.”

Natalie Zaragoza, who’s “about to be 10,” is a fourth-grader at Duncombe Elementary School.

She was competing in the softball toss and the long jump.

She said she picked those herself and that she’s been practicing at home and at school.

She had a ready answer for why she likes being a Special Olympian.

“That it rocks,” she said.