Originally published May 17:
Unified track will compete in sectionals against Franklin Central and Ben Davis on May 18.
Unified Track is an educational track team for special education kids to show their unique talents alongside general education kids.
Dena Condra, the head coach, has been coaching the unified track team for 10 years. She also feels that not many people know about unified track.
“I don't think people completely know what unified sports is,” Condra said. “I think they have a misconception of what it is or what they think it is.”
Unified Track and Field is an IHSAA sport. Athletes with and without disabilities compete as a team against other high school unified teams.
Unified sports are competitive, the same as other varsity sports at Warren Central High School. They compete to win a state title. They have also been reigning champions in the MIC competitions.
“Warren Central Unified Track has won the MIC tournament the last three years and has won a Sectional title, Regionals and competed at State in Bloomington,” Condra said.
She feels that they need to work on specifically getting information out about unified track and unified sports in general.
“I just think we need to educate peers and students and the school more,” Condra said.
Coach Condra said that they are hoping to earn first place for the unified track team.
“We haven't won sectionals for three years … so obviously we try really hard to do that,” Condra said.
Coach Condra also explained that in order for the team to pass sectionals they have to be one of the top two schools to win. Just like Coach Condra, the assistant coach Stormy Royce said that they need to improve on sticking together as one team for the sectionals and with that she feels that they will have a strong bond as well with their team.
“Something that we really work on is working together and kinda hyping each other up and cheering each other during competitions,” Royce said.
They wish to encourage others to know about this sport and to get more special education students or people in general to help out and support them.