One of the highlights of Conn-Madden Relays weekend is the induction of local athletes into the Newport News Track and Field Hall of Fame.
The Hall was founded in the early 1980’s and held up for about twenty years, before sliding away from activity for a decade. In 2011, the Hall was renewed with the induction of 17 new members, and it has remained steadfast since then.
This year’s class includes four athletes and a coach from two Newport News schools. Representing Woodside was Brandon Burton and Majique Key. From Heritage, Octavia James and Dontae Bugg were selected, as was Jacqueline Bateman, one of the Hurricane coaches since its opening in 1996.
Burton was a star middle distance runner for the Wolverines in the late 2000’s who clocked a 1:52.62 in the 800 at the CNU Captains Classic during his senior year. Burton continued his career as a 400-meter hurdler and quarter miler at the University of Virginia. While at U. VA, Burton was an ACC performer at the long hurdles, with a best of 52 seconds. He also won All-American honors as a member of the Cavaliers distance medley. Burton graduated from Charlottesville in 2014.
Key was the best short sprinter in Woodside history, with best times of 10.95 and 22.23 in the 100 and 200 meters during his senior season of 2011. He also won the AAA state title in the 55 meters during indoor season, with a time of 6.30. Key could not attend the event, as he is in Vermont trying out for the expansion Vermont Bucks team of the Arena Football League. However, in his message, presented by mother Alfreida Gordon, Key thanked Coaches Derrel Johnson and Jerome Rhodes “for always busting my butt… telling me never give up and saying - YOU BETTER RUN KEY!” Said Gordon, “he loved track, but now he’s following his NFL dreams.”
Dontae Bugg was the oldest athlete inducted this year, but Bugg is hardly a greybeard. After graduating from Heritage in 1998, Bugg went on to star at the University of Maryland where he broke the 60-meter indoor hurdle record (7.92) in 2000, and held on to it for seven years. Bugg, now an attorney in Fairfax, VA, had not returned to Todd Stadium in several years, but said that he misses the “competition and camaraderie the most,” adding “I have a ton of memories from here, and a lot of good friends.”
Octavia James has stayed closer to the track since winning a memorable state championship over future Olympian T’erea (then Tierra) Brown of Hampton High in the 300-meter hurdles during her 2005 senior year. She started college in Pennsylvania, but transferred to join the VCU track team. “Our lineup (at VCU) was different then,” said James, who now works as a behavioral counselor at the Behavioral Health Center in Norfolk. “We had a whole bunch of distance runners and a plethora of jumpers, but maybe two hurdlers.” James, who misses the “race day feeling” from track, went on to coach at Tabb High, and later CNU for two years, before settling into her new position. She is excited about the induction of sports as part of the therapeutic process at BHC. “We’re getting into basketball and dancing as part of what they’re doing in therapy.”
Jacqueline Bateman has been a high school track coach for 24 years, but happens to work with legendary Coach Ray Pollard, who has over 40 years of experience with a stopwatch and whistle. While she has maintained that she is happy to be in “class with the other coaches,” she was surprised to get the Hall nod. “I’m more of an undercover person, with the parents, in the classroom and school. This is a special, but surprising award.” During her time with the Hurricanes, Bateman has worked with a number of Heritage state champions, including James. She credits Pollard as a great coaching partner. “We complement each other. If one does this, then the other one does that. Coaching is much more than just giving somebody a workout.”
The Hall of Fame ceremony was held on Friday night, just after the conclusion of the first day of events at the Conn-Madden Relays.
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