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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Runnin' with East Side Pride
Eastern Oklahoma, OK
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By: Eric Fox
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Photo(s) By: Rip Stell
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“I tell people all the time. East Tulsa feels like a small town. It’s such a close community with so much support. I go in to Braum’s or Mazzio’s or Jiffy Lube and people tell me we’re doing a good job and are encouraging. It’s such a great place.”
East Central’s head boys and girls track coach, Kevin Gordon, attributed part of the rejuvenation of the track program at EC to the community support for the students and the school. “I live in this neighborhood. My kids go to Columbus Elementary. This is our part of town and the administration and the teachers and the whole area really get behind us.”
Gordon is in his third year at the helm of the track program. The girls have had back to back state championships, but the boys program was in a bit of a shambles. “When I got here, we only had three or four kids out. Now we have more than 40.” The boys advanced to the state track meet with a shot at the title last year but ended up as state runners-up. That whetted the appetites of the community and the school that has been a powerhouse in other sports. Gordon saw it as an opportunity to make EC known as a track school.
“There are several measures of how far we’ve come. You can look at the overall number of athletes we have involved. You can look at success at meets by winning medals and trophies. You can look at the support we get from our principal Mr. O’Malley, Stephanie Spring (TPS athletic director) and the faculty, but one thing that I am proud of is the fact that now we are getting kids that are true ‘track kids.’ They come here and want to be a part of our track program.”
East Central has always been known for its athletes. Top caliber programs in football, basketball and wrestling have generated numerous awards. Gordon sees track emerging from those shadows and complimenting them.
“Coach (Sammy) Mack wants his girls running and jumping and working on leg turnover and speed. Of course coach (Travis) Hill has been supportive of getting our football players to compete in another arena and to increase their athleticism, speed and explosiveness. Sports and speed go hand in hand so the entire athletic staff really encourages us.”
Some of the athletes that have contributed to the turnaround in the boys program are returning state champ in the 200 meter dash and the long jump, David Gordon, junior Donza Adkism, junior Jamal McDaniel, senior Montrey Whayne and football standouts, Brooklyn Fox and Andrew Rogers. Rogers, a senior who will play football at Coffeyville next year placed 4th in the shot last year at the state meet and Gordon knows that points in field events will be crucial in a battle with Ardmore and other class 5A powers.
David Gordon is the coach’s nephew, is the returning point leader and has run some of the fastest times in the state. He ran 21.29 in the 200 and 10.61 in the 100 at the John Jacobs Invitational at OU. Even though David won the long jump last year, the depth of the team may mean he stays in the sprints and the relays. Coach Gordon thinks Adkism may develop into a 23 foot long jumper by the end of the season. He has groomed his team over the last couple of years and is now reaping the benefits of that training and hard work. “Jamal (McDaniel) has been our lead leg on the 4 x 100 since he was a freshman and he just explodes out of the blocks.”
Gordon came to East Central from Bacone College where he coached the mens and womens programs and won the Red River Athletic Conference coach of the year. The transplanted Okie originally from Fort Smith Southside came to Oklahoma to play football and run track at Langston University. A former sprinter in college, he knows what needs to happen for his team as they make a run for the regional and state titles.
“At this time we just want to stay healthy and go to the regionals with no aches, bumps or bruises. If we can do that, we’ll just run hard and see what happens.”
What has definitely happened is a program has begun to flourish and excite a community. Gordon sees that as being something just as important as PRs and fast times. “It has truly been a blessing to be at East Central. I can’t wait to see what we continue to accomplish for these kids, this school and this community.” Look for the Cardinals in May to be running for pride and for the gold.
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