Wednesday May 9, 2007
2:22 pm
The Kingsborough Community Track Team is settled on the bus, a huge sixty-four seater bus that could be an airplane on wheels, as the coach makes last minute announcements, including “giving thanks” in the usual huddle. They are excited. Hard to tell if it’s more for the road trip ahead or the anticipation of performance during the races.
Whatever the motivation, they are ready.
6:23 pm
The sun is still high in the sky when we arrive in Maryland, having made one pit stop to fill the empty bellies and stretch the sleeping legs. The bus driver, Joe, maneuvers the bus deftly in and out of the Maryland traffic. A few more minutes and we’re turning into our destination of Columbia, Maryland. Once at the hotel, the Kingsborough track team leaves to familiarize themselves with the Howard Community College (host college) track and get some practice time in also.
11:47pm
Dinner was an event. Eighteen people not including the Coach and Athletic Director, myself and the bus driver Joe, sat down to dinner at the Olive Garden. Where do I begin? Entertaining in the way they each had to know exactly what they ate and how much it cost. Humorous in the way they laughed at each other during dinner, even when their mouths were full, making it all the more heartening. The lightheartedness of the evening does not betray the anticipation simmering beneath the surface of out athletes, but perhaps the lack of an appetite, most ate sparingly, betrayed their nervousness. Gina Kranwinkel, the Athletic Director was as patient as one might be with their own kids, spent most of dinner watching them as they ate and laughed. Tomorrow, the challenge begins.
Day one, Thursday May 10, 2007
6:07 pm
What a way to start the Outdoor Nationals! The Kingsborough Community College Men’s and women’s Track and Field Team dominated this day. A new school record for the Men’s 4x800 relay. They won!
A new record for the Women’s 4x800 relay. A completely new record because they’ve never competed before in the 4x800 relay at the outdoor nationals. They won! Cinnamon Thomas placed third in the long jump and Faisal Muhammad threw 41.09 in the hammer throw, making it back to the finals and coming in 7th in the country, keeping in mind that the hammer throw is something he only just now started in February 2007. How can I explain the feeling of watching them win, and not just win, simply dominate their competition. The pride was overwhelming. Other Colleges who weren’t competiting in that particular race were cheering. “GO KINSGBOROUGH! GO.” I forgot sometimes the camera slung around my neck, so awed I was by their performance today. Day one of Division III Outdoor National Track and Field events, dominated by Kingsborough Community College. Way to go!
Day two, Friday May 11, 2007
8:23 pm
Another incredible day for Kingsborough Community College’s track team. I have to admit, I wasn’t certain that they would be able to deliver the same performances they had yesterday. I was wrong. Readers, how do I explain to you that other coaches tried their best to get Kingsborough disqualified because of their outstanding performances yesterday? In trying to get them disqualified, they secured several magnificent performances from the entire team. My voice is almost completely gone, because I’ve been screaming so much, cheering for our team. I walked around today, proud, so very, very proud to say, “Kingsborough Community College,” when someone asks, “What school are you with?” Among the new records set were the men’s 4x400m relay, set Lindel Pope, Robert Mortel, Khalil Calixte, and Jamaal Devore with a time of 3:19. 54 and the women’s 400m dash set by Alain Thomas. There is the possibility here that the women’s relay team could very well sweep the competition. Meaning they could win all the women’s relay races, something that has never happened before and is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Tomorrow, we shall see.
Day three, Saturday May 12, 2007
FINALS!
5:14pm
Over and over these words keep repeating in my head. “They know who you are now, Kingsborough Community College of Brooklyn, New York. They know who you are.” The final day of the National Junior College Outdoor Track and Field Championships was a victorious day for Kingsborough Community College and for each of the athletes that represented us. Alain Thomas came in 1st in the women’s 400m dash putting in her seasonal best time of 59:17. Cinnamon Thomas placed 4th in that same race and Allana Paul came in 6th. For the men’s 400m dash, Robert Zeigler placed 2nd with a time of 49:61. Keisha Brown, for the women’s 100m dash placed 5th with a time of 13:26 and Alain Thomas, 6th with a time of 13:29, this she did a mere ten minutes after winning the 400m dash. The men’s 4x400 relay team, Beraiah Yisreal, Robert Zeigler, Tsion Thomas and Akeem Thompson came in 6th place with a time of 51:16. The women’s 4x400 relay team, Keisha Brown, Alain Thomas, Cinnamon Thomas and Alana Paul came in 1st with a time of 51:16 while Jamaal Devore came in 1st for the men’s 800m dash and Lindel Pope placed 5th in the 400m hurdles. The Kingsborough women’s relay did in fact sweep the competition, winning all three relay races, the 4x100m, the 4x400m, and the 4x800m, a feat that has never happen before. The events of the day culminated in an award ceremony I will not soon forget. Watching our Kingsborough athletes take the top tier for the medal ceremonies, the top tier being the first place block is something that will remain with me, perhaps forever. . Alain Thomas was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the women athletes. Head coach Dave Loobie received an honor that has never in the history of these events been given to a black coach. He was named Coach of the year. I asked him on the bus on the way back up, “Of all the events that Kingsborough Community College competed in, how many did they win or place?” His response was immediate. “All.” Be proud Kingsborough. They gave you reason to be.
ALL-Americans
MEN
1. Jamaal Devore(Outdoor Track)-First Team 800M, 4x800M, & 400M
2. Robert Zeigler(Outdoor Track)-Second Team 400M/First Team 4x400M
3. Lindel Pope(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800M & 4x400M
4. Khalil Calixte(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800 & 4x400M
5. Robert Mortel(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800M
WOMEN
1. Alain Thomas(Outdoor Track)-First Team 400M, 4x800M, 4x400M, & 4x100M
2. Allana Paul(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800M, 4x400M, & 4x100M
3. Cinnamon Thomas(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800M, 4x400M, & 4x100M
4. Keisha Brown(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x400M & 4x100M
5. Donisha Sheppard(Outdoor Track)-First Team 4x800M |
