Athlete of the Week: Saint Bernard High School cross country runner creating a team culture of inclusion

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (WFSB) - A Saint Bernard High School cross country runner is creating a team culture of inclusion by making sure his younger brother with autism feels part of the team.

Sophomore Landon Pettiford-Jones runs for the Saint Bernard cross country team and has always dreamed about sharing special moments in a team atmosphere with his younger brother Carter, who is diagnosed with nonverbal autism.

“I’ve always cared for him very much and sometimes I really don’t like just seeing him on the sidelines, and he’s always been very interested in the running and whatnot. So, I always try to include him when I can,” Landon Pettiford-Jones said.

After the Saints’ only home meet of the season, Landon had Carter join the team on their cool-down run. Since that emotional moment, everything changed.

“That moment might not have seemed like something as big as it was, but it really became that for us,” said Mallory Pettiford-Jones, Landon and Carter’s mother.

“It really made him incredibly happy. He was smiling and laughing the whole time,” Landon Pettiford-Jones said.

Jamal Pettiford-Jones, the boys’ father, said Carter loves to see the movement and cheer on his brother and teammates.

“All the kids here are just fantastic. They just do a really good job of making sure he’s included,” Jamal Pettiford-Jones said.

Whether at practice or at meets, Landon making sure Carter feels comfortable being part of the cross country team has had a positive impact on Carter and everyone involved.

“When he was younger and we were learning about his diagnosis, one of the things that I’ll never forget that Landon shared with us is that he believed Carter was sent here to help remind people about what really matters, and to be able to share that the teams, who might not always be exposed to someone with a diagnosis, I just think it means everything for Carter’s future,” Mallory Pettiford-Jones said.

Running cross country has become a way to raise awareness for autism.

“Seeing his joy and his smile being a part of the team, I just hope it reminds everyone to make sure they’re saying hello and make sure they’re including Carter and asking him questions,” Mallory Pettiford-Jones said.

“It definitely feels awesome to raise awareness for that stuff. My whole life I’ve been trying to do it. In my younger grades, my mom would come in and just read a book to my class, just trying raise as much awareness for it as possible, and I really like that people are able to see things like this and be able to understand it a bit better,” Landon Pettiford-Jones said.

Landon and Carter Pettiford-Jones are the Porter and Chester Institute Athletes of the Week!