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MILWAUKEE -- It was a beautiful day Thursday, May 17th for a terrific track meet at "Valley Fields." It's not a new event, but it has a new name in honor of a woman who was a big champion of the kids who took the field.
Sue MIller wasn't at Thursday's Milwaukee Public Schools track and field meet at Valley Fields, but yet, she kind of was, in the laughter of the competitors, the cheers of the coaches and the shouts and smiles of those continuing her work.
"She was an amazing person who affected a lot of lives," Annie McGinnity, coordinator of City Wide Rec Programs said.
The Second Annual Sue Miller Memorial Track and Field meet drew dozens. It is run by the MPS Adaptive Athletics Program. The event has been going on for awhile, but it was recently renamed in honor of Miller - an advocate for kids with special needs.
"Sue Miller was an MPS nurse for nine years that worked a lot with our adaptive population and she really ensured that our athletes were able to attend events even if they had medical needs," McGinnity said.
Miller lost a battle with ovarian cancer in 2010. The annual meet is just one way her friends and colleagues are keeping her legacy alive.
"It was important for her to teach and educate other people that these kids really can do whatever they want to do and she wanted to do anything she could do to create opportunities like this. It's a great way to remember my mom in a positive way and to reflect and see it come through and see how happy these kids are today," Paula Miller, Sue's daughter, said.
The track meet features first graders through high school seniors. "Several relay races, partnership obstacle course, softball, long jump, standing long jump, wheelchair roll, 50 meter dash, 100 meter dash," McGinnity said.
The events are slightly modified so everyone, regardless of disability could participate, and above all, there's support - a level of sportsmanship you won't find at many other athletic events.
"There are lots of high fives and cheers and good-natured fun all around," McGinnity said.
The MPS athletic program serves hundreds of people every year and works with the Special Olympics and Para-Olympics in Milwaukee.