On Tuesday, March 18, The Unified Track team had their first track practice. The current Unified roster is the largest seen in the last three years with 32 players.
When asked how Coach Walls felt about the upcoming season, she replied, “I am super excited about this upcoming season. We have a really great team with an even split between athletes and partners.”
Unified Track consists of four running events, being the 100 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter, and 1600 meter dash. Following this are the three specialty events for which the team divides. These are the javelin throw, the long jump, and shot-put. Completing these, the team rejoins to finish off the meet with the four relay events, those being in corresponding lengths with the dash events.
Upon the completion of the activity part of the meet, the teams line up to form the handshake line. Then either the home team will provide small meals to its own athletes and the away team, or the away team will usually stop by a restaurant for a team dinner to celebrate another meet.
Unified Sports are inclusive interscholastic sports program run by Special Olympics. The goal of these sports is to bring together students with all sorts of disabilities with their peers without disabilities. Unified Track was adapted in Pennsylvania in 2017.
The schedule of meets is:
- North Western – April 10
- Fort LeBoeuf – April 24
- General McLane and North Western – May 1
- Fairview and McDowell – May 8
- Regionals – May 14, so long as enough points are amassed.
On April 10, Unified Track will also be having a senior night for the only home meet, and they encourage all to come out and support the athletes.
