Charles County Schools Win Big At Special Olympics Maryland Unified Track And Field State Competition

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Student-athletes from five Charles County public schools earned first-place finishes during the 2026 Scholastic Unified Sports Track & Field State Invitational held Tuesday, May 13, at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Prince George’s County.

The annual Special Olympics Maryland event brought together more than 700 student-athletes from school systems across the state. Schools competed in divisions based on team size, matching programs against others of similar scale in a day focused on teamwork, inclusion and competition.

That progression matters not only for athletic development, but for the friendships and teamwork built along the way. The students who competed May 13 spent months training side by side throughout the spring season, developing the trust, communication and confidence.

What Is Unified Sports?

Special Olympics Maryland’s Unified Sports model places students with and without disabilities on the same team to train and compete together — not in separate categories, but as unified rosters working toward the same goals. The program is part of a national Special Olympics initiative designed to promote inclusion through shared athletic experience.

For many participants, unified sports offer something harder to measure than a finish time or a field event score: a sense of belonging that carries well beyond the competition. Stephanie Barry, a social studies and special education teacher and longtime coach of bocce and track and field at La Plata High School, reflected on what makes the program work.

“I have coached bocce and track and field at La Plata High School for many years,” Barry said. “Our school has an incredibly inclusive student body that warmly welcomes and supports all student-athletes. Unified sports provide students with meaningful opportunities to build acceptance, work toward shared goals, and develop lasting friendships. These connections extend beyond practices and competitions, as students regularly interact in the hallways and cafeteria, helping to foster a truly inclusive school environment.”

About Special Olympics Maryland

Special Olympics Maryland’s Unified Champion Schools program serves thousands of athletes and unified partners across the state through year-round sports training and competition. Unified Sports teams are composed of students with intellectual disabilities, students with other types of disabilities and students without disabilities — all training and competing together. Schools interested in getting involved can reach the Maryland Unified Champion Schools team at UCS@somd.org or visit specialolympicsmd.org.

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