Special Olympics New Hanover County athlete Alastair Guerrant and Unified partner Pierson Guerrant share more than their genetic makeup. Students at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, the twins both compete on the Unified track and field team, which joins students with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics athletes, and students without intellectual disabilities, Unified partners. Through the Hoggard Unified Club, Alastair and Pierson learned of their chance to compete as teammates.
“Alastair and Pierson were a part of Hoggard’s inaugural Unified track and field team in 2023 and have made a significant impact in making the program what it is today,” said Haley Spell, Unified track and field coach. “Both boys are extremely hard workers, treat everyone they encounter with respect and encourage their teammates to do their best.”
Before running as a Unified partner, Pierson started competing in varsity cross country, where he quickly advanced to a high level. Soon, his brother would, quite literally, follow in his footsteps.
“Alastair got into running because of Pierson,” explained their mother, Heather Guerrant. “He started to look at Special Olympics and wanted to participate… It was a bit confusing at first because the Unified partners did not understand that they were also competing. But to have true inclusiveness, everyone has to compete and do their best. Once the Unified partners figured it out, everyone competes and treats each other equally.”
“I’ll finish my event and he’s up next,” said Pierson. “I get to go over to the side and cheer him on. I also get to run events with him, which is super fun… Last year, Unified partners would run alongside the athletes, not giving their full effort. I told them, ‘I’m not letting Alastair win.’ We’re supposed to be competitive in that aspect and once everyone figured out that we actually need to compete, that is when it all clicked.”
“I like the competitiveness,” added Alastair. “There’s some trash talking.”
Alastair competes in the 200m, the 400m and the 4 x 100m relay, while Pierson competes in long-distance events and the relays. This year, the twins are training to qualify for the 2024 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) State Championship, held in Greensboro, North Carolina. In February, as part of their training regimen, they both ran the Wrightsville Beach Valentine Run 5K, Alastair’s longest race distance to date. Each mile, Alastair ran faster and faster.
After school and on weekends, they spend their time together. At a much slower pace, they build elaborate LEGO® structures. This summer, their shared routines begin to shift, as Pierson readies to leave for college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he will compete on the cross country team. Alastair plans to spend the summer outdoors tending to his newest project – planting a native wildflower garden in his family’s yard to increase bee and butterfly activity.
Though the days of sharing their school’s track are nearing an end, the brothers have built an inclusive foundation for generations of students to come. Their team will continue to support a one-track mind, with inclusion as its focus.
“Coaching these two has been such an amazing experience,” said Haley. “They are making a difference in the lives of so many by living out what it truly means to be inclusive.”
