Unified Track Commences

Chloe Williams, Staff Writer

Unified Track is a joint IHSAA / Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) team that allows high school students with and without disabilities to collectively represent their high school in IHSAA sanctioned meets. The idea of Special Olympics started back in the 1950’s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw the need for students with intellectual disabilities to have a place to learn and play sports.  The Special Olympics expanded to Unified Sports in 2008. IHSAA joined Unified Sports in December 2012.

The team’s practices started on March 5. They have practiced for a total of one week so far. The team will have 3 weeks of practice before their first meet on April 5th against Columbus North. Practice times are everyday from 3:45-4:30.  Anyone can come out. There are currently about 20 students involved and participating on this years team. Their meets are April 5th at Columbus North, April 28th HHC Conference meet at Columbus East, and Sectionals May 19th.

Coach Amanda and Mrs. Floyd welcome anyone who wants to be part of this revolution. All that is required is that the student has the ability to make it to practice and have a physical on file. If a student does not have the ability to be on the team but still wants to be involved, there are opportunities for those individuals as well.  One of the biggest ways to be involved is to be a cheerleader for this group. Come to the meets if you can, if you are on the Varsity/JV track team come high five or cheer on unified athletes during their workout, or wish them good luck in the hallways. They hope to add more meets in the future as more schools around us build Unified Track teams.