EASTHAM — Whoever coined the term “unified track” deserves an award for linguistic perfection. To view this sport, as practiced by the Nauset Regional High School Warriors, is to experience unity at its highest level, with an abundance of sportsmanship on the side.

It might be a bit much to describe Nauset’s final unified track meet of the season against Barnstable on May 15 as a lovefest. Then again, it might not.

Family members were omnipresent, as were athletes from other Nauset teams. They followed the participants from event to event, standing at a respectful distance, cheering enthusiastically, and shouting words of encouragement. The girls and boys track teams helped with the field events, while the boys lacrosse team, with Coach Jesse Peno in the center, stood next to the long jump pit and loudly applauded each participant.

The support wasn’t directed to Nauset’s team or Barnstable’s. If not for their uniforms, it would have been impossible to differentiate the athletes, all of whom were cheering each other on.

During the shot put, Nauset Coach Jake Pickard called up each athlete by name, regardless of team affiliation. Each throw was met with high fives. Personal records (PRs) were announced, sometimes by the athlete, and received loud ovations. Smiles were abundant.

Five events were contested: shot put, javelin, long jump, 100-meter dash, and the 4-by-100-meter relay. They were held consecutively, so that each athlete could participate in all of them if he or she chose.

The teams used modified equipment in some events. The turbo javelin is flexible, with a rubber tip. The shot is made of rubber. This concept was taken to an unplanned extreme several weeks earlier in a home meet against Monomoy when batons were nowhere to be found before the relay. Without betraying any outward concern, Pickard found a nearby brush pile, returning seconds later with three sticks that served as replacements. The relay went off flawlessly.

Reminded of this before the relay against Barnstable, the coach smiled and said, “Flexibility is the name of the game,” before adding with a chuckle, “but my team still prefers to use real batons.”

The unified track team is made up of students from Nauset’s Life Skills Program, joined by students, referred to as partners, who support them as needed. In the 100-meter dash, for example, the partners ran with their teammates, offering words of encouragement along the way.

Brennan Armstrong, Gabe Hammond, and Wellfleet’s Bridgette Tesson (who was unavailable on the day of the Barnstable meet because of a broken arm) of the Life Skills Program were supported throughout the season by their partners, Jakob Baerga, Addyson Greemore, Corbany Greemore, Ava Herold, Eloise MacMillan, Mia Martin, Morgan McWilliams, Calla Pearson, and Jessica Tesson.

Armstrong, a senior from South Yarmouth, was participating in his last meet. He towered over most of the competitors and used long strides to swallow up yardage in the final race of his career, the 4-by-100 relay.

Hammond, from Truro, was effusive as he set a personal record in the shot. Despite that achievement, he told a reporter that the 100-meter dash was his favorite event because he got to go fast.

No team scores are kept. As noted, personal records are celebrated, but success is primarily determined by personal growth, and its measurement is subjective.

The program’s goal is to “foster a sense of belonging, togetherness, and unity in an inclusive atmosphere,” says Pickard. Success, therefore, is measured by observation and anecdote. An intriguing example occurred during one of Nauset’s last practices. A dispute between two teammates over whose turn it was to throw the shot got heated. Coach Pickard called the participants over to talk it through. Within seconds, apologies had been rendered, hugs exchanged, and a team hug requested. It ended with the entire team breaking into applause. In an environment where social growth and togetherness are the objectives, this was the equivalent of running a four-minute mile.

Corbany and Addyson Greemore, sisters from Brewster, completed their first year on the team. Describing the experience as “awesome,” Corbany said it was fun to be part of a team “without having to be super competitive.”

“I was surprised by how supportive everyone was,” added Addyson, who, like her sister, declared with enthusiasm that she would be returning next season.

The athletes are not the only participants who benefit. Charlotte Cox, a freshman from Brewster, throws the shot for the girls team. She assisted by tracking down the shot after each throw and rolling it back to the next competitor. “I like seeing all of the athletes being happy for each other,” she said. “Sometimes, in my competitions, you are just happy for yourself.”

Antoine Walker, who lives in Eastham and also helped at the shot put circle, said, “It is really fun to see how happy they are when they PR.”

The commanding yet calm master of ceremonies is Pickard, a Nauset alumnus who grew up in Wellfleet. He started the program in 2018 and, after giving up the reins for several years, including a two-year Covid hiatus, returned for his second stint in 2023. He teaches special education at Nauset with a specialty in math.

Pickard’s outfit provided a fitting metaphor for the program’s culture. He wore a perfectly knotted tie accenting a crisp button-down shirt that signified the seriousness of what was being accomplished. But a closer inspection of the tie revealed a bright orange Tigger standing next to Winnie the Pooh, which seemed to shout, “We’re here for fun!”

The relay was the last event of the day. Barnstable was fleet of foot, covering the distance in 1:13. Nauset crossed the line approximately 30 seconds later to cheers as prolonged and heartfelt as those Barnstable had received. The loudest “Let’s Go Nauset!” cheer came from a Barnstable runner.

The meet ended the only way it possibly could have, given the mutual admiration displayed throughout the afternoon. Once the relay was concluded, Coach Pickard called them all — not just his athletes, but Barnstable’s as well — into a huddle for the following cheer: “We will not be defied! We are unified!”