Our Biggest Sports Season at Full Speed on the Way to Summer Games

Our Spring Sports Season doesn’t fool around after the calendar hits April 1. April always means a flurry of Area and Regional competition action. This month athletes will line up at seven of our eight area track and field meets as well as compete at regional soccer and swimming events. All of this happens as the sports seasons hit the gas pedal on their way to the Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet and the State Summer Games.

Swimming

The swimming season consists of a series of locally held time trials that prepare swimmers to compete in one of two regional swim meets that are held in April. Swimmers who qualify will advance to the Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet. For the fourth year in a row, continuing construction at Eastern Kentucky University will force the State Swim Meet to be held as a stand-alone event separate from the State Summer Games. This year the State Swim Meet is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Ralph Wright Natatorium at the University of Louisville.

2026 Swimming Schedule
April 18 – South/West Regional Swim Meet, Owensboro Health; Owensboro
April 18 – North/East Regional Swim Meet, Scott High School; Taylor Mill
May 16 – Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet, UofL Ralph Wright Natatorium; Louisville

Track and Field

One of the largest of Special Olympics Kentucky’s 15 sport offerings, track and field is where many first-time athletes begin their involvement in Special Olympics. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to compete in track and field statewide this year.

We hold eight Area Track and Field Meets throughout the state. Meets begin in April and conclude with the Area 4 Track and Field Meet in Louisville in May. Athletes compete in one Area Track and Field Meet during the season. Athletes who qualify will go on to compete in the State Summer Games track and field meet at Eastern Kentucky University June 5-6.

2026 Track and Field Schedule
April 11 – Area 3&9 Track & Field Meet, Johnson Central High School; Paintsville
April 11 – Area 8 Track & Field Meet, Great Crossing High School; Georgetown
April 25 – Area 1 Track & Field Meet, Calloway County High School; Murray
April 25 – Area 2 Track & Field Meet, Owensboro Middle School; Owensboro
April 25 – Area 5 Track & Field Meet, Bowling Green High School; Bowling Green
April 25 – Area 6 Track & Field Meet, Southwestern High School; Somerset
April 25 – Area 7 Track & Field Meet, Lloyd High School; Erlanger
May 9 – Area 4 Track & Field Meet, Mercy Academy; Louisville
June 5-6 – State Summer Games, Eastern Kentucky University; Richmond

Soccer

Soccer is the one team sport offering for Special Olympics Kentucky in the spring. More than 300 athletes compete in the sport each year.

The season consists of two Regional Soccer Tournaments. Teams must compete in one Regional Tournament in order to compete in the State Soccer Tournament, which is held as part of the State Summer Games at Eastern Kentucky University in June.

2026 Soccer Schedule
April 11 – South/East Regional Soccer Tournament, Lynn Family Training Center; Louisville
June 6 – State Summer Games, Eastern Kentucky University; Richmond

Bocce

Bocce continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the Special Olympics Kentucky program. The bocce season includes local practice, and in most years local tournaments or invitationals. The season concludes at the State Summer Games at Eastern Kentucky University in June.

Mirroring the Special Olympics Kentucky bowling program, bocce has become the perfect spring sport for athletes with mobility issues and older athletes who still want to participate in the State Summer Games.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Kentucky has long been a national leader in the area of Special Olympics gymnastics, with Kentucky athletes winning dozens of gold medals at the USA and World Games levels.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition has been held at the State Summer Games for several years after replacing artistic gymnastics at the Games. The change allowed gymnasts to remain on the Eastern Kentucky University campus during the Games instead of having to transport off campus — as far as Lexington in many years — to find a suitable competition site.

For information about track and field contact Kathy Marshall at 502-695-8222 or kmarshall@soky.org. For information about swimming contact Loran Trent at 502-695-8222 or ltrent@soky.org. For information about bocce, soccer or rhythmic gymnastics contact Holly Vincent at hvincent@soky.org.