While some might be able to pick up on the deaf students using sign language to communicate with their coaches and teammates, the blind students almost fly under the radar.

"There are different levels of blindness," VSDB head coach and athletic director Slim Hite said. "Our kids that are running track have some vision. They don't need a walking cane and they navigate campus everyday without aid."

However, that doesn't mean their vision is not an issue at all.

Each runner has a unique setback, ranging from color blindness to cataracts to only having periphery vision.

Although running in his lane is not a challenge for junior LaQuincy Ferrell, knowing the differences in the line colors is, "if someone tells me to go to the blue start line, it's kind of challenging because it's hard for me to distinguish colors since I'm color blind."

Other blind runners have different obstacles to overcome.

"I have glare problems, so really really bright sun can mess with my eyes," said sophomore Damarcusnez Sandidge.

Those who aren't able to see much at all, however, are still active members of the team.

When a student's eyesight is particularly limited, the coaches implement a buddy system where less-impaired individuals run beside a more limited runner and either hold a short string between them or simply link arms and run together.

It starts out awkward at first, but with practice, the team has become skilled running arm-in-arm with each other. The only problem is when the blind athlete outruns the one who can see.

"The challenge of this is staying with the other person, because if I run ahead of them, the person might loosen their grip and I could veer out of my lane," said Tyler McDonald, a blind student who only sees light and shadows because of detached retinas. "Sometimes that is kind of frustrating because it slows me down a little bit, but I have always wanted to be fast and I knew I could probably do it. It feels good to run, to start and take off like that."

Alhough each student has his or her own personal reason for running, just about everyone joined the team to strive for personal improvement, engage in some healthy competition, get some exercise and have a lot of fun.

"I think it's a great sport and it is helping me get in shape," Ferrell said. "I love competing with other schools and other kids."

His teammate agreed, "I like running and going different places," said Sandidge. "I just like being athletic."

For Noah Stelleck, track was a way to finish out his senior year on a high note.

"It's my last year and I really just wanted to be an athlete for VSDB."

Every team member shares the same uplifting and inspiring attitude.

"I do it just to have fun. Whether I win or lose, at least I know I've always done my best," said freshman Ravern Turner.

The kids are realistic, but stay dedicated and determined to improve.

"I'm not the fastest person on the team, but I just have fun. With me in particular, I don't care if I get first place or last place, I'm still going to try to improve my time everyday. I don't care what time I get, but I'm out here enjoying myself," said Ahmad Subhi.

The team opened its season Wednesday at the Waynesboro Invitational.

"The (VSDB) coach called us up and said he heard we were having an invitational and wanted to jump in. So we said 'By all means, yes, we'd be more than happy to have them,'" said Waynesboro coach Alec Gunn.

While he expected his own team to have some questions, no one ever came to him with any concerns. Having to compete against peers with disabilities has been a learning experience.

"I think they learn that those kids can do just the same things that our kids can. There's really no difference here," Gunn said.

Because Wednesday's meet had so many schools present, VSDB did not run athletes who used a buddy, but did request two lanes for its vision-impaired runners.

However, things did not go as planned.

"We had an individual who didn't come up on the sheet, so VSDB didn't even get their second lane in one race and the kid ran just like the rest of the kids in one lane," Gunn said.

There were a few minor changes that occurred compared to uninhibited student-athletes. In addition to the request of two lanes for blind students, deaf students look for the flash and smoke of the starting gun to take off down the track. There are also unique signs for commands from the starter such as thumbs down for "on your mark", thumbs up for "set", and thumbs pushed forward for "go!"

The deaf students and the blind students look out for one another and are always bouncing with encouragement as each runner crosses the finish line. Because the starting gun is so loud, quite a few of the deaf students are able to hear it go off, but first, second and third race calls to the bullpen over the loudspeaker are not generally heard by the deaf runners. Because of that, their blind teammates listen for their race calls for them.

The coaches have created a great atmosphere for both the blind and deaf students to interact after being separated in class all day long.

"I wanted to get a sport started for the deaf and blind to do together," said assistant coach Sharon Starcher. "It's something that they can all do where they are not separated."

With a strong team chemistry, other students at the school are sure to start paying attention and developing an interest.

"This track program is going to do nothing but grow," Hite said.

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100406/SPORTS/4060323