UNIVERSAL CITY — Under overcast skies on a track field in the Cahuenga Pass, 270 blind or visually-impaired student athletes competed Saturday with a lot of heart.
The competitors, ages 6 to 19, traveled from six states to take part in the 27th annual Braille Institute-Optimist Clubs Track and Field Olympics.
They are kids who are accustomed to overcoming obstacles.
"To us kids that are visually impaired or blind, this allows us to get out there and show people what we can do and to prove to ourselves we can do anything," said Manny Casillas, 19, of Tucson.
Competitors at the event, held at the Braille Institute Los Angeles Youth Center near Universal City, threw the shotput, performed high jumps, raced and mastered an obstacle course that included a wall that loomed high over their heads.
