Teenager in a Wheelchair Reaches a Racing Milestone

But McFadden, her mother and their attorney, Lauren Young of the Maryland Disability Law Center, expressed dismay at that approach, saying McFadden had sought permission to compete only at the same time as other runners, not directly against them.

In a 12:50 p.m. conference call yesterday, participants on both sides said Davis clarified his ruling.

Davis said McFadden would compete in a separate wheelchair event that would take place alongside able-bodied competitors, according to Deborah McFadden and Mike Williams, coordinator of athletics for the school system. The winner of the other race would still receive five points toward the team's overall score, and McFadden would receive one point for every event she completed up to four events, as she did before.

For McFadden, who spent her early years in a Russian orphanage before being adopted at age 6 by Deborah McFadden, the joy of yesterday's meet was worth the wait.

"This is about doing the one thing I have always wanted: getting to run with my friends and teammates," McFadden said. "This is so meaningful because I've waited a long time for this. It isn't about winning today. It's about getting the opportunity."

In two other races, McFadden posted a time of 30.62 seconds in the 200-meter dash, which was well behind Long Reach freshman Funmi Alabi, who won in 25.63; and 2:11 in the 800-meter run, with teammate Alison Smith winning in 2:25.42.

Before the runners took to the track, Long Reach senior Devan Miles said she was a little nervous. "I'm not used to having someone come up behind you in a wheelchair," Miles said. "It's going to sound weird because usually it's someone running, but now it will be the sound of wheels. I just have to go out there and run my best."

Atholton freshman Alissa Abitante said one of her friends from another team said she worried about getting "trampled." But she told her friend not to worry. McFadden "will move around you," Abitante said. "She's so good at this."

For others, there was little to worry about. It was simply a day to compete alongside a world-class wheelchair athlete who captured two medals at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004.

"Going against her doesn't bother me as long as she doesn't run me over, but really, I'm cool with running with her," said Keri Wilson before the start of the 1,600. When the race was over, she said: "It wasn't a problem at all. I was nervous at first, but when I saw how fast she was going, it made me want to run faster."