Wednesday marked the beginning of a new partnership between the Special Olympics and the NJSIAA. For the first time Unified 4x100 meter relays were held at the Meet of Champions. The events are not only competitive but promote the teamwork and understanding between athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. Here is a full explanation below on the goals of the program by the Special Olympics New Jersey Director of Program Development Bill DePonte.
"Special Olympics New Jersey and the NJSIAA have partnered together to offer Unified Sports opportunities to high schools throughout New Jersey. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team and playing field. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. At today's Meet of Champions, the 4 x 100 Unified relay is the very first event to be contested under the Special Olympics New Jersey/NJISAA partnership. These runners have been selected by their schools, practiced together in various Unified Sports throughout the year, and are representing their school and community in today's inaugural Unified event." |
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So who won the historic first running of unified 4x100 meter events at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions?
On the boys side Neptune HS took the victory with a 51.07 leading the way over a close second place finish between Middletown South 52.90 and Randolph 53.00.
Boys 4x100 Meter Relay Unified
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School Seed Finals
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1 Neptune Unified 'A' 51.07
1) Williams, Patrick 2) Wiburn, Azion
3) Vick, Parick 4) Radwanski, Michael
2 Middletown South W 'A' 52.90
1) Dube, Samson 2) Mark, Jake
3) Santiago, Chris 4) McCarthy, James
3 Randolph Unified 'A' 53.00
1) Burg, Jacob 2) Dadario, John
3) Donnelly, Matthew 4) Urbantrout, Jason
4 Burlington City Unified 'A' 53.91
1) Edwards, Kion 2) Kanu, Francis
3) Pak, Justin 4) Strickland, Chris
5 Hamilton W U 'A' 1:00.50
1) Alicia, Elvis 2) Brooks, Camren
3) Colliert, Louis 4) Harmon, Mark For the girls we had an exciting finish as Burlington City chased down Hamilton West to win with a time of 1:09.81 over Hamilton's 1:11.30.
Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Unified
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School Seed Finals
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Finals
1 Burlington City Unified 'A' 1:09.91
1) Evans, Kat 2) Johnson, Quiataya
3) Sills, Alexis 4) May, Shannon
2 Hamilton W U 'A' 1:11.30
1) Bailey, Britney 2) Carter, Yaya
3) Odinkemere, Kelechi 4) Rivas, Araceli
3 Middletown South W 'A' 1:19.88
1) Carter, Katherine 2) Hayes, meganb
3) Hymanson, Carly 4) Vadon, Meghan
4 Clifton Unified 'A' 1:21.92
1) Anolik, Hannah 2) Nunez, Krystal
3) Oldzieji, Ewa 4) Petti, Alexxa