CHESAPEAKE — Charles Stover stood by the fence along the Chesapeake High School track Friday and waited for his chance to experience the thrill of victory.

He was one of more than 400 athletes from across Lawrence County who competed in the annual Special Olympics. Although he competed in three events, Stover, an eighth grader, said his specialty was the standing long jump. What is the secret to winning a medal for jumping?

“Just leap,” he shrugged.

Simply put, perhaps, but Stover’s assessment can best explain the whole point of Special Olympics: Just do your best.

“This is their day to shine,” Chesapeake Middle School Assistant Principal Ben Coleman said. “It’s all about them today.”

Just like the regular Olympic games, gold, silver and bronze medals were handed out to the top finishers in six events.

For 13-year-old Fairland student Tyler Adkins, Friday was a chance to not only take home one of those medals, but maybe take home bragging rights against his sister, Sara, who is 14 and also a Special Olympics participant.

Both would compete in the 50-meter dash, though not against each other, and Sara was sure she would be able to tell the folks at the end of the day that her time beat her brother’s.

“She can’t. I’m way faster,” Tyler protested. “I’m two times way faster than she is.”

Tyler said he often spends time on the track by himself, practicing to make perfect in an area where he does his best.

“Sometimes I come out and just run and jump the fences,” he said.

For Chesapeake eighth grader Spencer Williams, the Special Olympics provided more than an opportunity to show off his athletic skills.

“He uses this as a way to look for girlfriends, don’t you Spencer?” teacher Debbie Riggs teased. “And he’s successful.”

Riggs used to be Williams’ teacher and although he was promoted to higher grades, he still came back to visit with her Friday.

In addition to the physical games outside, some students gathered inside the middle school to compete in developmental games.

“Some of the kids, because of their disabilities, can’t come to the track so these games are for them,” Lawrence County Special Olympics coordinator Sharon Blankenship said.

Members of the Ironton Elks Club volunteered their time to make those games happen.

Whether inside or outside, the annual event gave students a chance to set a goal and then work to achieve it.

In the words of Chesapeake teacher Audra Litteral, this was a chance “to compete without barriers.”