(Indianapolis) — The trophy lift is twice as nice for Elkhart’s unified track team.

Led by strong performances by both the boys and girls 4 x 100 relay teams, the Lions’ unified track squad repeated as state champions Saturday, downing archrival Penn by four points, 123-119.

Unified track combines students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team for sports training and competition. Special Olympics Indiana and the IHSAA partner to sponsor Unified sports competitions.

The Unified track and field teams consist of an equal number of athletes with intellectual disabilities (Unified Student Athletes) and athletes without intellectual disabilities (Unified Student Partners). Teams are co-ed and the competition is co-ed.

Elkhart’s boys 4 x 100 team of Ian Krempec, Jayvrey Stokes, Katravon Underwood and Francisco Isaula finished first. Penn won the girls 4 x 100 using the combo of Mollianne Snyder, Payten Blatz, Alina Blackwell and Hope Roberson. Elkhart’s girls finished second in that event.

Colin Krempec helped the Elkhart cause in a big way, with runner-up finishes in the mixed 400 and long jump.

Todd Sheely, who is also the boys soccer coach at Elkhart, has served as the Lions’ unified track coach since the consolidation of Elkhart High School in 2020.