2017-18 Unified Track & Field State Finals Recap

June 2, 2018

Elkhart Memorial Chargers Celebrate Unified Track® Championship
In their first Unified Track® and Field State Finals, Elkhart Memorial emerged as the top team in the state as they took home the top prize. The Chargers dethroned defending champion Merrillville, who came in second place, on their way to hoisting the Unified Track® State Championship Trophy for the first time.

Only a handful of points separated the top teams on the day. Elkhart Memorial edged Merrillville 104-101. After the top two teams, Columbus North, Warren Central, and Carmel rounded out the top five, all scoring over 90 points. Additionally, Warren Central, Griffith (who came in sixth place in the meet with 89 points), and Bedford North Lawrence (ninth place, 79 points) joined Elkhart Memorial in making their first state finals appearance in Unified Track® and Field.

Unified Sports® enables persons with and without intellectual disabilities to participate on the same team for sports training and competition. The “Champions Together” partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics Indiana was launched in 2012. While the IHSAA provides the framework for competition, Special Olympics Indiana provides technical support and financial grants to a number of schools who start new Unified Track ® programs.