Building a partnership through sports

Banner Graphic/JOYCE ORLANDO Special Olympics team had a sunny day for a track meet on Sunday afternoon. ISHAA has teamed up with Special Olympics Indiana this year to help bridge the gap between student athletes and Special Olympics athletes. South Putnam High School junior Nathan Criss set up the track meet to help Special Olympics participants get prepared for future games.The track meet was conducted like any other high school track meet. Participants in the 400 meter walk (above) take off at the sound of the gun to make a loop around the track. (Below) Justin Livesay, 24, lands a 15-foot long jump as his fellow athletes look on.

After a week of flooding and watery weather, the Putnam County Special Olympics had a sunny Sunday to compete at a track and field meet at South Putnam High School.

Special Olympics Indiana and IHSAA have teamed up this year to work together to give participants in the Special Olympics a chance to participate in more sporting activities and give a chance for students part of the ISHAA to help develop and foster certain skills that can help them on and off the field.

"The opportunity for the IHSAA to partner with the Special Olympics of Indiana may prove to be one of the most profound decisions made by the association in the ongoing development of student leaders in and education based athletic setting," Bobby Cox, the commissioner of the IHSAA, stated. "I am most pleased that our Student Advisory Committee has decided to engage with and support the activities of one of our state's most important organizations."

One of the participants on the Student Advisory Committee is Nathan Criss, a student athlete at South Putnam High School. Criss started the project to put on a track meet for Special Olympics in Putnam County in late December.

"Before the partnership I didn't know anything about Special Olympics in Putnam County," Criss said.

Criss didn't let that stop him from jumping headfirst into the project with Special Olympics. He and dozens of volunteers came out Sunday afternoon to help with the track meet for about 80 athletes.

The meet went like any other track meet, with participants competing in different events like the 100-meter relay and the long jump.

Cheering could be heard all around the track as competitors participated in different events. What marked a difference at this meet that, there was no specific team to cheer for or to compete against. Cheering and encouragement was heard from spectators, fellow athletes and the athletes themselves.

Like many sporting events these teammates good-naturedly ribbed each other about their performances. Justin Livesay and Michael Chittenden were two as they competed against one another in the long jump on Sunday.

Banner Graphic/JOYCE ORLANDO

Livesay set a record that day with a 15-foot jump, which was broken by the next jumper Chittenden who hit the 17-foot mark. The two could be heard saying they would see who was better in the next event after Chittenden's jump.

Mike Furnish, president and CEO of Special Olympics of Indiana was on hand for the meet. Furnish was enthusiastic about the event and what Criss had done.

"It's a great opportunity for them (athletes) to practice," Furnish stated. "It's a struggle to find facilityies for them to practice outside. This is great for them to be out in a competitive setting. For many of them it is the first time."

Sunday's meet was something different for many of the participants, but it was also a big change for those that had volunteered their time to come and help with the event.

"It (working with Special Olympics) changed my life," Criss said about the event and watching the athletes compete.

Criss is hoping that in the future the partnership with Special Olympics in Putnam County will grow to include sports in all seasons.