NORTHAMPTON, MA — 84 athletes from 11 schools participated and earned medals in this week’s Special Olympics games at Northampton High School Thursday morning. The games included hurtles, hula hooping, long jumping, and a 50 meter dash, set up at different stations around the track.

More than 50 Northampton High School student volunteers helped run the event under the guidance of organizer Mackenzie Paolini, the adapted physical education teacher who works at the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton.

“It was a great opportunity for the student-athletes to be able to be in the spotlight and have people come out and watch them and cheer them on,” Paolini said.