At Westside High School, Unified track is more than a sport, it is a program built on connection, growth, and shared purpose. By pairing students with and without disabilities, the team creates an environment where athletes compete together while developing relationships that extend far beyond the track.

Head coach Zane Cozad said his path to Unified track was shaped by a lifelong connection to athletics and coaching. 

“My dad was a high school football coach for my entire childhood and so coaching has always been something I’m interested in,” Cozad said. “I started working with the ACP team my first year as a certified teacher and was asked if I would be interested in coaching Unified bowling or Unified track, and because I did track in high school, I thought I would have more fun with the competitive spirit of track.”

Cozad describes Unified track as one of the most authentic forms of sport because of how it blends competition with inclusion. 

“Unified track is the purest Unified sport in my opinion because it just makes sense. You take a student with a disability and a student without a disability and you combine their throw/jump/run. It’s truly unified, together, and objective,” Cozad said. “The coolest thing about track to me has always been the fact that it is objective and you cannot hide. In some sports, you can hide from the spotlight and have others make up for any weaknesses,” Cozad said. 

The structure of the program requires athletes and partners to work closely together, building strong relationships through shared effort. According to Cozad, these experiences make it nearly impossible to leave the season unchanged. 

“They lean on each other to make sure they’re learning and becoming the best version of themselves. They laugh, sweat, sometimes even cry and bleed together. If you go through an entire track season without strengthening your relationship with at least one other person, then you tried hard not to,” Cozad said. “My goal is, as I kind of just put, for everyone to put in the work to improve themselves. That doesn’t just mean on the track. If you can run a second faster, jump a foot farther, or throw a foot farther, none of that matters if you didn’t improve on the relationships you have with your teammates and your own character.”

At the same time, the team still embraces competition.

“On a more competitive level, our goal is to win a couple of gold medals at state as well. We have some great athletes and partners who are capable of competing against the very best in the state.” 

Like any athletic program, Unified track faces challenges throughout the season and athletes must remain resilient.

“We face the same challenges every other team of sports face in regards to competition. We face challenges of weather, long days, and hard work. We face challenges of not always getting the jump, throw, or time we wanted. Athletes overcome those challenges by leaning on each other and going through the experiences together. We try to promote a totally positive environment,” Cozad said. 

The program’s growth has been supported by both the school and the broader community. This support has contributed to increased participation and rising competition levels across the state.

“The biggest thing I’ve seen in the growth of Unified track is the amount of participating schools and the total level of competition. My first year we made it to state in the 4×100 with a time of 57 seconds. Last year, we ran a time of 53.9 and didn’t even sniff the state meet,” Cozad said. 

“This year we have a faster 4×100 time and should make it to state, but the fact that we aren’t certain with our current time is exciting because it shows how much everyone throughout the state has improved. Jumps and throws have improved by several feet, times have improved by several seconds. People are starting to take it seriously as a sport and it is showing in the end results,” Cozad said. 

Despite the increasing competitiveness, Cozad hopes people recognize that Unified sports serve many different purposes.

“I hope people understand that Unified sports are multi-purposed. If you just want to participate in a team sport and have fun, we’re going to try to make your experience enjoyable and teach you teamwork, loyalty, and how to build each other up. If you want to win, we’re going to try to push you a little extra to improve your jumps, throws, and speed. We want you to be the best version of yourself just like any other sport,” Cozad said. 

Senior athletes also play a key role in shaping the program’s culture and leaving a lasting impact. Ellie Carnazzo entered the season focused on improvement, with a goal “to throw farther.” As the season concludes, she hopes “to have one win,” while preparing for a future outside of athletics. Carnazzo plans to pursue a career in education and said Westside has had a strong influence on her high school experience. She shared that she found “friends and positive people” through the program and believes she contributed by helping create a sense of belonging. She hopes to leave behind “a positive memory” for younger athletes, with her favorite moments coming from team bus rides.

Jayslynn Ramirez approached the season with both determination and ambition, aiming “to get faster and to go to state.” Her final goal is “to win first place,” reflecting her competitive mindset. Ramirez hopes to continue athletics if possible and plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy. She said Westside has motivated her and shown her that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. Through her hard work, she believes she has impacted the program as “a student that works hard and achieves her goals.” For younger athletes, Ramirez hopes to leave the message that “nothing is too hard to achieve.”

Together, the experiences of athletes and the leadership of the coaching staff highlight what makes Unified track unique. The program is not solely defined by wins or records, but by the relationships built, the lessons learned, and the sense of belonging it creates.

As the season ends, Unified track continues to demonstrate that success is not measured only by performance, but by the ability to grow, support others, and compete as one unified team.