SONC Unified Sports Track Resources

Special Olympics North Carolina Unified track and field started in 2015 in Wake County with two schools, Garner and Wakefield High. With the support of the Wake County District Athletic Director, Deran Coe, Wake County Athletics was the first county in North Carolina to endorse Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field. Since then, Special Olympics North Carolina Unified Track and Field has expanded to over 30 schools with over 200 students with and without intellectual disabilities practicing and competing together.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has long been a supporter of Special Olympics North Carolina Unified track and field. Special Olympics Unified track and field athletes first competed at the NCHSAA State Championships in 2015 in the 4x100m team relay. In 2018, the NCHSAA expanded their partnership with SONC by offering the 4x100m relay and 100m dash at the State Championships meet. Further expanding the relationship. In 2022, Special Olympics and the NCHSAA created a new position to oversee and manage the Unified track and field program.

SONC looks to continue to grow Unified track and field across the state of North Carolina. For more information on how to get started, contact sports@sonc.net.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Unified track and field are HERE.

MileSplit Registration

To align the program with the existing track teams, participating schools must use MileSplit to house their rosters and register for meets. Each school has had a Unified track team page set-up by MileSplit. The list of schools and their assigned MileSplit accounts is below. Follow the directions below to activate your account and start using MileSplit.

• 1. Click HERE to access the MileSplit link.
  2. When your team page comes up, click on “claim team”
     • It will prompt you to either login or register an account. If you have an existing account, login. If you do not have an account, register for a new account. Accounts are free.
  3. Once you claim the team, an email will be sent to MileSplit. They will verify your claim and you will have access to your team account.
  4. Change your password and update your profile
  5. Enter your team roster

Unified Track MileSplit Accounts

For questions regarding MileSplit, contact Nathan Brookins.

Team scoring

Due to the growth of the program and increase in size for many teams, only teams with a minimum roster of 10 will be scored at conference/county championship meets. Teams with fewer than 10 participants will still be able to compete and receive individual place finishes but will not accrue team points.

The team scoring formula found in the official SONC rules will be used for county/conference meets.

Student Athlete Medical Physical Assistance Voucher

Through a partnership with the MinuteClinics found in CVS and Target locations, with this voucher, a physical can be completed for $44. This will help give athletes and their families/caregivers a way to get physicals completed and turned in.

SONC Unified Track & Field Guidelines for Athletic Department

The resource helps explain the role of an Athletic Director in the Unified Track & Field program.

The SONC Unified track and field rules listed below are intended to be used in conjunction with NFHS and NCHSAA track and field rules. Therefore, those rules are not repeated here but they will be enforced unless in direct conflict to SONC modifications.

Unified Track and Field Sports Rules

SONC offers competition in 6 different track events, ranging in distances from 100 meters to 800 meters, as well as 2 field events. This range of events allows athletes of all ability levels the opportunity to train and compete successfully to the best of their abilities.

Unified track and field Events
click link to see diagram of event layout
100m/200m/400m/800m Dash
4 x 100 Relay
4 x 400 Relay
Running Long Jump
Shot Put (8lb/3.6kg)

NCHSAA State Championship events
100m Dash
4 x100m Relay

Game On: Learn about the divisioning process that differentiates Special Olympics from other sport organizations.

ALL students will need to complete the NCHSAA physical in order to be eligible for participation. We will no longer accept Special Olympics North Carolina athlete physical forms for students with intellectual disabilities under the age of 19*. NCHSAA physicals must be completed and submitted to the school Athletic Director prior to the first practice.

*For students with an intellectual disability who turn 19 on or before August 31, 2022 a Special Olympics North Carolina physical will be required.

Identifying Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

A person is considered to have intellectual disabilities for purposes of determining his or her eligibility to participate in Unified Sports® if that person satisfies any one of the following requirements:

1) The person has been identified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities as determined by their localities; or

2) The person has a cognitive delay, as determined by standardized measures such as intelligent quotient or “IQ” testing or other measures which are generally accepted within the professional community in that Accredited Program’s nation as being a reliable measurement of the existence of a cognitive delay; or

3) The person has a closely related developmental disability. A “closely related developmental disability” means having functional limitations in both general learning (such as IQ) and in adaptive skills (such as in recreation, work, independent living, self-direction, or self-care). Persons whose functional limitations are based solely on a physical, behavioral, or emotional disability, or a specific learning or sensory disability, are also eligible to participate as Unified athletes or partners.

Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) requires Unified track and field coaches to complete the following trainings:

• NFHS Track & Field Resources
• NCHSAA Track & Field Resources
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – printable version
• Special Olympics Quick Start Guide – digital version
• Team Recruitment Strategies

Special Olympics NC Unified Track and Field Timeline

This step-by-step guide will assist in starting a Special Olympics Unified track and field team at your school. Follow these steps to start the program at your school. Remember to reference the Unified track and field resource page for more information.

Additional Resources

Interest Meeting Agenda Example

To align the program with the existing track teams, participating schools must use MileSplit to house their rosters and register for meets.Each school has had a Unified track team page set-up by MileSplit. The list of schools and their assigned MileSplit accounts is below. Follow the directions below to activate your account and start using MileSplit.

• Click HERE for a link to your Unified track & field MileSplit account.
• When your team page comes up, click on “claim team.”
  • It will prompt you to either login or register an account. If you have an existing account, login. If you do not have an account, register for a new account. Accounts are free.
• Once you claim the team, an email will be sent to MileSplit. They will verify your claim and you will have access to your team account.
• Change your password and update your profile.
• Start entering your roster.

For questions regarding MileSplit, contact Hailey Miller at hmiller@sonc.net.

Location: North Carolina A&T State University

Criteria For Advancement

Unified track and field athletes and Unified partners may qualify for participation in the NCHSAA State Championships track meet scheduled for May 19-20, 2023. Athletes and Unified partners must compete in their county or conference meet to become eligible. Official results from county and conference meets in the following events will be used to determine qualification.

100m dash times
4x100m relay team times

The top eight athletes from both county and conference meet results will qualify by May 10, 2023. Participants who qualify will be notified by SONC, at the conclusion of all statewide county and conference meets. If an athlete is unable to compete, the athlete, Unified partner, or relay team with the next fastest time will qualify.

The fun doesn’t stop once students graduate! Special Olympics North Carolina offers year-round sport training and competition for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities in 20 Olympic-type sports.

What is available for my students after they graduate?

Special Olympics North Carolina training and competition takes place in almost every county in the state. You can find contact information for your community HERE.

How can Unified partners stay involved?

• Unified Campus Recreation Intramurals – Did you know that over 10 colleges and universities in North Carolina offer Special Olympics Unified intramurals!? See if the college or university you’re attending in the fall offers this programming.
• Become a coach!
• Get involved with the local program in your community.

Check out the Special Olympics Graduation Packet for more information on many ways to stay involved with Special Olympics throughout your life.