While Pella High School is renowned for its success on the track–and 2024 will be no different, a Dutch athlete with unique challenges is also showcasing her talent on the oval.
Sophomore Leah Dykema from Pella High School competed this semester in Nashville, Tennessee, at a track meet for students who are blind or visually impaired.
Leah, who is on the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired Rams team, rode to the Tennessee School for the Deaf with 10 other teammates from Iowa in late September. The competition involves schools for the blind in the North Central Association for Schools for the Blind conference.
The road trip is as much about navigating new environments and meeting peers as it is about athletic competition according to Cindie Angeroth with Iowa Educational Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired. Social events are held for the teams over the weekend.
Dykema placed 14th in the girls long jump with a distance of 5’7”. She placed 10th in the 60-yard dash with a time of 11.63.
“I enjoyed the experience of seeing Nashville, participating in the events for the first time, meeting new people and being independent for my first time ever,” she said.