Potomac Region Champions Together Unified Track and Field Meet 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Thank you for your interest in competing at the second-annual Potomac Region Champions Together Track Meet. We are excited to bring together Unified programs throughout Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Faquier County, and Prince William County.  Please find information regarding registration and meet implementation below. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have ANY questions--our hope is to make this a positive experience for all athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators.  We look forward to hearing your feedback and questions.

Site: Park View High School

Contact:  Patsy Long; coach@saintsebastianacademy.org

Schedule:

2:30pm Volunteer Meeting 

3:00pm Coaches Meeting 

3:30pm Field Events Begin

• Shot put

• Softball throw

• Long jump

4:00pm Track Events being and will follow a rolling schedule (the next event will begin after the first event has finished)

• 25m Assisted Walk

• 100m Dash

• 100m Wheelchair Race (non-scoring event)

• 4x100m Relay

• 400m Dash

Overview: According to the Special Olympics, Unified Track and Field includes athletes and partners who compete in a variety of track and field events, using the following definitions:

• Athlete: Students that have been identified by the school to have learning and/or functional disabilities that prevent adaptive skills such as recreation, work, directional skill, self-care of health, and/or independent living. Any other students are considered partners.

• Partners: Students without an intellectual disability who participate with the athletes for training and competition.

Registration: Each school program will submit entries for each event electronically using MileStat.

Video Directions: 

How To Register (for any Unified program who has NOT previously registered using MileStat): Go to https://va.milesplit.com/

1. Log in to MileStat in the uppermost right corner by creating a profile using email and password

2. Click on TEAMS in the white banner at the top of the web page

3. Click Add New Club on right side of screen under the label ADD NEW TEAM

4. Enter in data and click SAVE

5. Go back to TEAMS once again

6. Search for your new team name (ex: Freedom Eagles Unified Track and Field), and click on it

7. Click on Edit Team (top center in the black banner)

8. Click on Roster

9. On the right side, add an individual athletes information to add them to the roster; repeat this process for each individual member, athlete and partner

How to Register (for ALL Unified programs):

1. Go to: https://va.milesplit.com/meets/348723/info#.XJlIvJhKhE

2. Click on the green link labeled: Register Online Now

3. Click Next to register your Unified team (you must still be logged-in to MileStat)

4. In each individual event, click on the athletes who will compete in that event. Be sure to include am accurate seed time or distance for each athlete.  These seeds can come from earlier meets or can be estimated by the coach.  Just please check for accuracy, as these seeds will be used to create running heats and field event flights that will affect scoring.

Registration Limitations:

Each school may register two athletes and two partners for each individual event (100M, 400M, long jump, softball throw, and shotput) and one 4 x 100M unified track relay team consisting of two athletes and two partners. Each participant may register for a maximum of two individual events and a relay. Schools should enter a proportionate number of athletes and partners in each event (1 athlete and 1 partner, 2 athletes and 1 partner, 1 athlete and 2 partners, or 2 athletes and 2 partners).

Please complete event registration by Wednesday, April 27th at 5:00pm.

Field Event Information:  Athletes and partners will check in with the Head Judge at each event

• Maximum of three attempts

• Heats will be based on entered distance and will be grouped into flights of 8 (highest to lowest)

• Girls use the 3 kg (6.6 lbs) shot put; boys will use 4 kg (8.8 lbs) shot put

• Schools must bring their own equipment (shot puts, softballs)

Running Event Information: Athletes will check in with the Clerks at the center of the football field and will be escorted to each start line after checking-in

• No preliminary races--all events will be run and scored as finals

• Heats will be based on entered time and will be grouped into heats of 8 (fastest to slowest)

• Schools must bring their own equipment (batons)

• Blocks will be available for use

Scoring

• Students will be placed into heats/flights based on ability (regardless of whether athletes or partners) and awarded an equal number of points for finish in each heat/flight (e.g., first place in the fastest heat gets the same number of points as first place in the slowest heat). Each heat/flight will have the same number of participants, except that extra participants will be entered into the higher seeded heat(s) or flight(s). Athletes and partners should compete to the best of their ability at all times. Participants from the same school may be assigned to the same heat.

• Team points will be awarded for each heat/flight (organized by 8 athletes) based on place finish: 1st = 10 points, 2nd = 8 points, 3rd = 6 points, 4th = 5 points, 5th = 4 points, 6th = 3 points, 7th = 2 points, 8th = 1 point

• Students who use wheelchairs may enter the softball throw, shot put and a demonstration 100M wheelchair race. Team points will not be awarded for the 100M wheelchair race.

Awards

• The first, second, and third place teams will earn a team trophy

• Event ribbons to individual team members from all other schools

Additional Information:

• Admission: Free for all spectators

• Concessions: The concession stand will be open with a variety of foods.  Please pass along to your parents/families!

• Hospitality Room: The facilities shed will be open throughout the meet for all coaches, volunteers, and meet personnel.  The hospitality room is sponsored by Wegmans who has generously donated water, beverages, breakfast, and lunch for the meet.

• Finish Line: On the home side by the first turn (timing tent will be set-up here)

• Jump Pits: On the visitors side by the 200m mark

• Throws Circles: Behind the stadium; follow gravel path behind the tennis courts

• Electronic communication equipment (cell phones, walkie-talkies and others) and video equipment are strongly discouraged in the competition area to maintain the safety of all athletes.  Spectators and others are encouraged to take photos and videos outside of the the track area, on the outside of the jump pits, and on the outside of the throws circles.

• Teams are welcome to set up tents on the Visitors Side of the stadium (the smaller set of bleachers); teams are also welcome to sit on the Home Side bleachers but we are asking to avoid tent set-up there to preserve viewing for all spectators.

• Potomac River Running, a local specialized running store, will have a van and tent set-up to sell merchandise like custom t-shirts and shoe-laces and will also have giveaways.

• Bus Arrival: Bus drivers can pick-up and drop-off in the bus loop outside the stadium; drivers will then park in the bus parking lot.

Weather Policy:

• We hope to host the meet in great weather! However, if the weather forecast includes heavy rain and/or thunderstorms, we will make a call to cancel the event to ensure the safety of all athletes, partners, and teams by Friday, April 29th at noon.  This information will be posted on the MileStat meet page.

• If we begin the meet under clear weather but inclement weather does occur during the meet, all participants, teams, and spectators will seek shelter in the main gym.  This call will be made via announcement and will follow LCPS weather policy guidelines.