BOSTON -- Pittsfield's Shannon Cowell is among 16 Bay State residents who earned the right to represent the commonwealth at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

 

Cowell will compete in track and field, one of four disciplines in which Massachusetts athletes will participate, along with powerlifting, tennis and aquatics.

 

Cowell qualified for the national games by winning a gold medal at the 2025 state games at Harvard University last month.

 

More than 4,000 athletes from around the country will compete at the USA games, schedueled for June 20-26 in Minneapolis.