{"id":127085,"date":"2026-05-01T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/special-education-track-and-field-event-celebrates-20-years-in-durango\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T11:00:00","slug":"special-education-track-and-field-event-celebrates-20-years-in-durango","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/special-education-track-and-field-event-celebrates-20-years-in-durango\/","title":{"rendered":"Special education track and field event celebrates 20 years in Durango"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Celacia
Celacia Stewart, 16, from Cortez, crosses the finish line with Hollye Bronson, left, and Adriene Ratican on Thursday during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Spirits ran high Thursday at the 20th annual Bowker Games, a track and field event for students with disabilities from Aztec and Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n

The event, often called \u201cSouthwest Colorado\u2019s version of the Special Olympics,\u201d took place at Escalante Middle School and included 50-, 100- and 200-meter races; standing and long jump competitions; and field events like the beanbag drop, softball throw and tennis ball drop.<\/p>\n

Students were invited from Aztec, Bayfield, Cortez, Dolores, Ignacio, Mancos, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Dove Creek and Silverton. More than 230 kids showed up, said Billy Bowker, event founder, organizer and race-caller.<\/p>\n

\"Kyler
Kyler Williams, 10, from Park Elementary School, participates in the high jump during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Bowker, who is a former Escalante staff member and physical education teacher, launched the games in 2006 out of a desire to provide a dedicated field day experience to the region\u2019s students with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that kids look forward to every year,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2026 It brings joy to the kids. It brings joy to me. \u2026 But it\u2019s their day. It\u2019s all about them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bayfield High School 11th grader Kevin Ball and 10th grader Dylan Wilson ran several races Thursday, including one of the 100-meter dash heats.<\/p>\n

\"Dean
Dean Rohde-O\u2019Leary, 10, of the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy, leads the 100-meter dash on Thursday during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cMy favorite part is running and cheering on people,\u201d said Ball, who has been competing in the games for the past four years.<\/p>\n

Wilson said those are his favorite parts, too.<\/p>\n

Park Elementary School fifth grader Kora Dosch competed in another heat of the 100-meter dash using her mobility aid.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so fun,\u201d she said after crossing the finish line and being awarded a medal.<\/p>\n

\"Park
Park Elementary School fifth grader Kora Dosch competes in the 100-meter dash during the 20th annual Bowker games, a track and field event for Southwest Colorado students with disabilities. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Hillary, Kora\u2019s mom, said Kora loves being active, and the Bowker Games, which Kora has competed in since she was in second grade, are a great opportunity for her to spend time with her friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so special that they provide this opportunity for them,\u201d she said. \u201c\u2026 She loves it so much. And (she) likes winning medals, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Planning the event involves months of hard work and the help of dedicated volunteers, Bowker said \u2013 but it\u2019s all worth it to see the joy the games bring students.<\/p>\n

\"Billy
Billy Bowker, a former Escalante teacher, said it touches his heart to see children enjoy the Bowker Games, an annual event for students with disabilities that has come to be known as \u201cSouthwest Colorado\u2019s version of the Special Olympics.\u201d (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cIt touches my heart to see the smile on these kids\u2019 faces and the expressions, and some kids will just want to \u2013 year after year \u2013 run every heat and every race,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The community rallies around the event each year, Bowker said. San Juan BOCES donates the gold medals that every competing student is awarded; the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031 lend helping hands; Smoke Ring BBQ supplies food \u2013 which the Durango High School basketball team helps serve \u2013 and Centura Health workers staff the races to make sure everyone is feeling healthy and cared for. A coordinator from Durango School District also helped Bowker seek a grant for the event that funded water bottles, he said.<\/p>\n

\"Erica
Erica Schatz places a medal around the neck of Brayden Morse, 11, after he finished the 100-meter dash on Thursday during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Erica Schatz, Bowker\u2019s stepdaughter and a Durango Medicare employee, volunteered at the finish line and donated Bowker Games scarves and hats.<\/p>\n

Kevin Jagger has volunteered at the Bowker Games for the past six years, helping at the starting and finish lines and lending a hand in any way he can. He said seeing the joy the students get from the event is what keeps him coming back year after year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good for the heart,\u201d he said. \u201cMy first two years volunteering, I cried. You see the kids? They\u2019re all smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Escalante
Escalante Middle School students cheer on participants during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Dewey Waldron has been volunteering even longer \u2013 for more than 10 years. Seeing the same kids come back year after year is one of his favorite parts of helping out at the event, he said.<\/p>\n

Some students have participated in the event each year from kindergarten through graduation, Bowker said.<\/p>\n

Fifteen volunteers signed up this year to help put on the event \u2013 the biggest number to date, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis wouldn\u2019t happen without the volunteers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Bowen
Bowen Craig, 7, of Bayfield, invites a hug from the Escalante Eagles mascot on Thursday during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Brothers Josiah and Joaiden Hight from Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy ran several races side-by-side Thursday. It was their first time participating in the games.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite part is that I run fast and get to do it with my brother,\u201d Josiah said.<\/p>\n

Fourteen-year-old Jase Mills from Pagosa Springs, who is nonverbal, competed in several race heats in his wheelchair with the help of his special education paraprofessional aide, Junior Lister.<\/p>\n

Lister, who has been working with Jase for the past three years, said it gladdens him to see so many of the region\u2019s special education students come together for the event.<\/p>\n

\"Jace
Jace Mills, 14, of Pagosa Springs, wears his medals during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201c(They\u2019re) competitive, and they\u2019re having fun,\u201d he said. \u201cMy (favorite) part is seeing all the kids \u2013 and I think that\u2019s what makes (Jase) happy, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two decades in, Bowker has no plans to stop bringing joy to the region\u2019s special education community each year through the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey (the students) look so forward to it each and every year, and that\u2019s why I do it,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to keep on doing it for as long as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

epond@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Students
Students with disabilities from across Southwest Colorado and Aztec competed Thursday at the 20th annual Bowker Games. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bayfield
Bayfield students and spectators rest on the grass during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School on Thursday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cortez
Cortez High School student Z (center) races in the 100-meter dash Thursday at the 20th annual Bowker Games, a track and field event for Aztec and Southwest Colorado students with disabilities. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Participants
Participants take off at the start of the 200-meter race during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Students
Students with disabilities from Aztec and across Southwest Colorado competed Thursday at the 20th annual Bowker Games. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sarah
Sarah Mendrala, a teacher at Florida Mesa Elementary School, gives student Damion Polzin, 9, a piggyback ride during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wyatt
Wyatt Hunter of Mancos participates in the long jump on Thursday during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Students
Students with disabilities from across Southwest Colorado and Aztec competed Thursday at the 20th annual Bowker Games. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Gaven
Gaven Phanhthalath of Durango wears his medals during the annual Bowker Games at Escalante Middle School. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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