Riverside Athlete Has Strong Showing at Special Olympics State Games

Former Poly High track athlete participated in multiple events at the Southern California Summer Games.

Riverside Athlete Has Strong Showing at Special Olympics State Games
Darren (with medal) and friends celebrating a victory at the State Special Olympics competition. (Courtesy of Dave McDevitt)

Darren McDevitt brought home hardware from the 2025 Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games, earning bronze medals in two individual running events and contributing to his relay team’s success.

The 20-year-old Riverside resident and 2023 Poly High School graduate captured third place in both the 100-meter and 200-meter runs at the June 8 competition. McDevitt crossed the finish line in 17.04 seconds in the 100 and 36.39 seconds in the 200.

McDevitt also participated in the 4x100-meter relay, earning gold as part of the Riverside Storm team, and competed in shot put, placing sixth in the men’s 4-kilogram division.

The multi-sport athlete’s training regimen has paid dividends across multiple disciplines. During his high school career, McDevitt competed in various running events for the Poly High track team before transitioning to Special Olympics competition after graduation.

When not training or competing, McDevitt enjoys listening to 1980s music and watching horror movies. His favorite foods include bean and cheese burritos and pepperoni pizza — fuel for his athletic pursuits.

The Special Olympics competition brought together hundreds of athletes from across Southern California, with competitors divided into ability-based divisions to ensure fair competition.

McDevitt’s success at the state level demonstrates the continued growth and competitive depth of Special Olympics athletics programs throughout California. The organization provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for athletes across the region.

His next competition has not yet been announced.

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.

Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.

You've successfully subscribed to The Raincross Gazette.

Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.

Success! Your billing info has been updated.

Your billing was not updated.