Special Olympics Minnesota offers many track and field events, including the hurdle events, marathon, high jump, long jump, shot put, relays and wheelchair events. In addition, Special Olympics Minnesota offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic athletics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events.

In addition to traditional events, athletes can participate in Unified Sports relay events. Unified Sports is a program that assigns Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) to the same teams for training and competition. On a Unified relay team, a team consists of two Special Olympics Minnesota athletes and two partners.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to events, ability level, age and gender.

Events

Track Events

25 and 50 Meter – Dash and Walk
100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 Meter – Run and Walk
4 x 100 Traditional and Unified Relays

The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
10 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
25 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
25 Meter Dash – Physical Assistance
50 Meter Walk – Device or Physical Assistance
50 Meter Dash – Physical Assistance

Field Events

High Jump
Running Long Jump (1 Meter minimum)
Shot Put

The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
Tennis Ball Throw (15 Meter maximum)
Softball Throw (15 Meter maximum)
Standing Long Jump

Multi-Event

Pentathlon (100 Meter Run, Running Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400 Meter Run)

Wheelchair Events

10 Meter Wheelchair
25, 50 and 100 Meter Wheelchair and Motorized Wheelchair
25 Meter Motorized Wheelchair Obstacle
30 and 50 Meter Wheelchair Slalom
30 and 50 Meter Motorized Slalom