There is a team at UMB that rarely gets recognition. Not only do they not draw many fans, but the vast majority of the school doesn’t even know they exist.
The track team here never competes at home, and they even have to jog a mile to get to their practice facility. Despite those obstacles, cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track are steadily improving, and the team has gone from completely irrelevant to LEAC title contenders.
In 2009, the men’s track team didn’t even score enough points to place in the Little East Conference. Last year they were fifth, and this year, junior co-captain Hamza Abdul claims that they have a chance to “win it all.”
So, the question is, why has there been such a dramatic turn around? The answer given by most of the team was simple: they claim that it was the inclusion of the new coaches. Head coach Cossandria Walker, and assistant Daniel Hutcherson are both in their second years of leading the team. Walker comes to us after finishing a great career running on the Northeastern Huskies track team and Hutcherson, a 2012 Olympic triple jump hopeful, comes from UConn.
The two new coaches bring their own style and philosophy on competitive running. Their experience with competing at a high level gives them the tools needed to help this team perform to their maximum potential.
Walker said, “I would never ask anyone to participate in training that I haven’t done or wouldn’t do.”
This kind of leadership helps to build bonds with the members of the team. If they know that they are not being asked anything that hasn’t been done before or that is not possible, they are much more likely to follow the lead. When asked about this motto of Walker’s, Hutcherson said, “What she says, you better believe it.”
Both coaches said that there are several athletes to watch out for this year. Junior Henry Morales broke the UMB indoor and outdoor 200-meter sprint records last year.
Abdul has confidence in the team that is a direct result of seeing the returns from the new system. The coached also have high praises for junior Jake Kerin. There is something that the coaches saw in him last year that tells them that this year he has the potential to go far. Walker and Hutcherson expect the whole team to do well this year.
The indoor track season begins Dec. 3 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury at 1350 Tremont St. This is UMB’s home track. If there is one message that Walker and the rest of the team want students to know, it’s that their support is welcome. The more people are there cheering for their team, the better their chances of stepping up and running harder.
Walker also wants students to know that the track team is welcoming anyone who wants to try out and show what they have. This also goes for most of the sports at UMB. Please stop by the Clark Athletic Center for more information.