<p>Award ribbons ran a distant second to high-fives and hugs at the Indian Creek track on Thursday.</p>
<p>Performances were judged by effort rather than times as the Johnson County Unified track and field teams competed in a three-way meet.</p>
<p>Franklin won with 134 points, followed by Center Grove (108) and the host Braves (98).</p>
<p>However, those numbers don’t show Braves sophomore Jeremiah Payton pouring every ounce of concentration into four events. Nor does it give proof Center Grove’s Michael Bishop used a best of 9 feet, 2 inches to capture the long jump.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>The meet had five events. By night’s end there were 50 winners.</p>
<p>“I like the long jump because it makes me go faster and get more exercise,” said Payton, whose persistent smile is visible whether he’s competing or cheering on teammates. “And I just want to be around my friends.”</p>
<p>Old ones and new ones alike.</p>
<p>Unified track brings together persons with and without intellectual disabilities to participate on the same team in any of five events: the 100- and 400-meter dashes, shot put, long jump and 4×100 relay.</p>
<p>Indian Creek is in its third year having Unified track, all under the direction of Sharon Hogue. She has eight athletes this season, their disabilities ranging from Down syndrome to autism to moderate cognitive issues.</p>
<p>Peer athletes for the Braves include standouts in other sports: boys basketball player Zach Pugh, girls golfer Lauren Pendleton, soccer player Grace Hunter and football player Austin Meyer among them.</p>
<p>Hogue hears the laughter and sees the smiles.</p>
<p>“It’s the friendships of the kids in the general population. That is the biggest factor for us,” she said. “When these kids are on the track with other students, they just bond. To see how proud my kids are of their own accomplishments is very rewarding.”</p>
<p>Since debuting last track season with 13 athletes, Franklin’s roster has more than doubled to 29. One of the Cubs’ peer athletes is senior Heather Crowder, who is enjoying the experience for the first time.</p>
<p>“It’s not at all about athletics. It’s mostly about being part of a team,” Crowder said.</p>
<p>Center Grove brought 16 athletes to Thursday’s meet, which is eight fewer than the total number on the Trojans’ roster.</p>
<p>Holly White, who co-coaches the team with Adam Clark, agreed that places and personal bests, while great, aren’t necessary the definition of a successful Unified meet.</p>
<p>“The students that have disabilities are able to connect and build some pretty good relationships,” White said. “I think a lot of times the athletics are secondary.”</p>
<p>White and her team were recently driving back from a Unified meet when two of her athletes, one peer and the other disabled, were looking at photos together. Beneath one a picture that included both athletes were the words, "My family."</p>
<p>“It’s more about going out and having fun, in all honesty,” White said. “I always tell them. ‘Run fast, jump far and have fun.’”</p>
<p>After finishing the shot put competition, Indian Creek senior Matthew Hall knew his best was 25 feet (25-2 was his actual distance), but he didn’t know where he placed. He finished second, but the pride in his accomplishment would’ve been the same regardless.</p>
<p>“I like to spend time with the special ed friends I grew up with,” Hall said. “I think it’s all very important to me.”</p>
<p>And with that, Hall was off to cheer on his teammates.</p>
