RBSC

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

KC Old Boy puts J.C. Smith on the Map

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • KC Old Boy puts J.C. Smith on the Map

    NCAA DIVISION II TRACK AND FIELD

    Coach, freshmen put J.C. Smith on map

    Rising program to have 2 runners seeking titles

    BRETT HONEYCUTT

    bhoneycutt@charlotteobserver.com

    Staff Photographer

    03.04.2008: First-year Johnson C. Smith coach Lennox Graham (left) recruited fellow Jamaicans Shermaine Williams (center) and Leford Green. (YALONDA M. JAMES -- yjames@charlotteobserver.com)




    Johnson C. Smith had a beautiful new track facility and hosted the NCAA Division II nationals last spring, but its own program was nearly nonexistent.
    Well, until this past November when Smith hired Lennox Graham, 43, to lead the program.
    Graham, a Jamaican whose credentials included coaching some of the most talented high school track and field athletes in his country, brought to Johnson C. Smith two of Jamaica's best young talents -- freshmen Leford Green and Shermaine Williams.
    Williams, from St. Andrew, won silver at the World Youth Championships this past summer in the Czech Republic and Green, from St. Catherine, ran a leg on the Jamaican senior team's fourth-place 1,600-meter relay at the World Championships in Japan.
    In an instant, the Golden Bulls went from fledgling program to having two runners who would compete for national titles.
    Both will do that this weekend at the NCAA Division II nationals at Minnesota State. Green is ranked first in the men's 400 meters (47.41 seconds). Williams has the fastest time in the women's 60-meter hurdles (8.25).
    "They had great facilities, but they did not have a track program per se, so the idea of rebuilding with good facilities was a good situation," said Graham, who coached Green and Williams in Jamaica. "Usually when you're rebuilding, there are no facilities, no athletes, no anything."
    Graham, though, doesn't want to view his connections as a way to bring talent from Jamaica only.
    "I don't want it to become a Caribbean regional program," said Graham, who's from Kingston. "I want it to be a Johnson C. Smith program for athletes from all over the world. As a coach, all you need is good quality, good potential. If you have good quality, you can turn them out into successful athletes."
    Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else - Vince Lombardi
Working...
X