Ninth Annual 10-Mile Run fpr the Heart Results

From the Peninsula Track Club (February 6, 2021)

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 5480 - benefiting the American Heart Association

The 2021 edition of the 10-Mile Run for the Heart was held under perfect running conditions; sunny and cold with a slight breeze and a temperature of 40 degrees at the race start. Two hundred and twenty-four runners entered the 10-Mile Run for the Heart with 191 completing the 10-mile course on the scenic Yorktown Battlefield.  Runners were spread out in nine waves and were instructed to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines during the event, including mask-wearing at all times while not running.  Social distancing and masking guidelines were followed for this completely outdoor event. 

The course started and finished near Surrender Field on the Yorktown Battlefield.  The 10-mile course is USATF certified #VA12072RT.

Four new age group course records for the 10-Mile Run for the Heart were set.

Winner and 1st Male Overall, Roger Hopper, 30 of Chesapeake, VA bettered the age group record for men 30-34 with a time of 56:41, improving on the mark of 1:01:31 that set by Ryan Doupe in 2018. For the women, Bethany Spector of Virginia Beach paced the field, winning in 1:12:29.

TOP OVERALL MEN

    1     1 ROGER HOPPER               30 CHESAPEAKE VA         56:41  5:41     

    2     2 JONATHAN TORRES            31 NEWPORT NEWS VA     1:02:29  6:15     

    3     3 TOBY WORM                  47 SMITHFIELD VA       1:03:18  6:20     

TOP OVERALL WOMEN

    1    18 BETHANY SPECTOR            31 VIRGINIA BEACH VA   1:12:29  7:15     

    2    21 GWEN RILEY                 27 PORTSMOUTH VA       1:12:54  7:18     

    3    24 JESSIE JAPZON              34 CHESAPEAKE VA

For men 60-64, Robert Whitaker, 62 of Yorktown VA set a new age group record with a time of 1:08:19 beating out the time of 1:10:07 set by Dale Abrahamson in 2013.

On the other hand, for men 70-74, Dale Abrahamson, 71 of Yorktown set a new age group record with a time of 1:19:40 beating the time of 1:20:44 set by Langston Shelton III in 2018.

Finally for men 75-79, Ronald Kellum, 76 of Hampton, VA set an age group record with a time of 1:43:13, beating the record of 1:45:27 which Ronald himself set in 2020.

Finish line and results services were provided by the Peninsula Track Club.  A copy of the results, links to pictures from the race and listings for future road races can be found on the PTC website: www.peninsulatrackclub.com. 

(Black History Month) From the Archives - Who is Boo Williams?

Do You Know Who Boo (Williams) Is?

MileStates 2017

(In honor of black history month, I  present one from the archives - an article I wrote for Milestat.com back in 2017 on Boo Williams, a Hampton, VA native who is also one of the nation's foremost youth basketball coaches and mentors. A genuine living legend.)

On Friday afternoon, I decided to give a short, impromptu quiz to several of the coaches and co-workers at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. It wasn't a tough test; in fact, it was only one question. To my surprise and amusement, many of the test takers failed.

"Do you know who Boo Williams is?"

Of course, the initial response was, "Sure, the guy that owns this building." However, there weren't many second and third sentences in the answer. Here's one -- "the multi-millionaire who donated the building."

One person was surprised when I mentioned that Boo Williams would probably be walking around at the meet later. Another was shocked when I said he had to leave his "9-to-5" job as an insurance agent with State Farm before coming over.

Around 5 PM, Marcellus "Boo" Williams made his entrance into the track facility. At almost six-foot-eight, he was hard to miss. Williams regularly makes an appearance at the state track meet, and many other non-championship track events. In fact, he is a regular fixture in the building that bears his name, and hosts events almost every day of the year.

However, his legend is more recognizable on the other side of the Sportsplex building, where many athletes warmed up among the numerous banners on either side of the State Farm gymnasium.

Boo Williams is a native of Hampton and attended Phoebus High. Because of his basketball prowess, a scholarship to continue playing at St. Joseph's University followed, and then a professional basketball career in Europe. Upon returning to Hampton in 1982, Williams started his work with State Farm, but was also bitten by the coaching bug.

On a $400 investment, he formed the Boo Williams Summer League. And the rest, as they say, is history. Starting with forty-six players, the league transformed into the Boo Williams Nike Invitational, and with over 200 teams and 2,500 players is known as one of the premier AAU leagues in the United States. To list his former youth players is to read a "Who's Who" of basketball players from Hampton Roads. Players such as Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning and Joe Smith have called Williams their coach, helping bring many AAU national titles back to Tidewater.

Along with his collaboration with Howard White of Nike, it was some of the former players whom Williams called for financial support, when his vision for a major sports facility to house the basketball tournaments came into reality. White, the Nike vice-president in charge of the Jordan brand, was a huge supporter of the project, and is the reason for the "Howard White" with a Nike swoosh in the northeast corner of the track area.

Another fact that may be unknown to many is that the "Booplex" was originally planned to be mostly a basketball-only facility. However, after realizing that a whole section of the converted warehouse was wide open, the planners went to then-Bethel High coach Eddie Williams and asked for his advice on designing a track. City leaders, realizing that a high-level track was sorely needed in the Hampton Roads region, and that a suitable facility could attract high-level meets, and boost money into the Hampton economy, made sure that a track with state-of-the-art features was built.

In all, it cost $13.5 million to complete the Boo Williams Sportsplex, which utilizes 135,000 square feet, seats 4,000 between the two sides, and holds eight basketball courts, which can conduct games simultaneously, as well as twelve volleyball courts and eight indoor hockey fields.

On Friday, Williams was told of the comment about being the multi-millionaire who donated the building. He simply laughed and responded with one word -- "No."

To view some of our Coach Williams' former players, one only needs to look for their names on the banners hanging in the State Farm gymnasium across from the track. To view the Coach, on Friday, he was the tall gentleman near the medal table with the gray and black Nike Jordan jacket.

Of course, for identification purposes, one could say that the biggest name on the building was probably also the tallest man inside of it.

VA Showcase: Top Three State Sprinters Meet -- Kind Of, As Pyatt, Whyte, and Holland Clash

Three of Virginia’s top female high school sprinters got a rare opportunity to compete in the same race on Sunday, as Aaliyah Pyatt, Madison Whyte, and Micayah Holland squared off in the 200 meters. While the full competition never came to fruition, it did allow a few lucky track fans a possible final chance to see the three together. (Below: Aaliyah Pyatt wins at CNU  HS Invite - photo by Mary Ann Magnant)

Each runner has seen notable success in their respective classes, with Whyte and Holland reaching state champion level last year as freshmen. Pyatt also won a championship in the 100 meters in 2019, while emerging from under the shadow of Godwin’s Britton Wilson in the 200 and 400.

However, during the season, Pyatt competes for Class 6 Massaponax, Holland, with Class 5 Princess Anne, and Whyte as the standout among Class 4 sprinters.

With the Virginia High School League opting to not sanction invitationals with more than three teams, the trio represented different teams at the Showcase, with Pyatt sporting an MVP League singlet, Holland with GT Academy, and in Whyte’s case, unattached.

The three almost had the opportunity to share a common goal – knocking off nationally ranked Kayla Davis (Run U Express), the junior from Hough High and Cornelius, NC. who was seeded first at 23.08, and possessed the #2 time nationwide this season at 23.92, just behind RUE teammate Shawnti Jackson (23.89). In a twist of fate, Davis was injured the week before the meet, leaving the three Virginians to race against the clock and each other’s times.

At face value, Pyatt represented Virginia’s best hope for a gold in the 200. The Massaponax HS senior had set the tone for a great upcoming weekend, as the senior long sprinter anchored the Virginia-based MVP League quartet to a 3:47.68 win in the girls 1600-meter relay on Saturday evening with her sub-55 second split. With a best 200-meter time of 23.11, she was seeded #2, right behind Davis.

Holland, who specializes in the shorter sprints, held the longest odds of medaling, but also began the Showcase with an auspicious start on Saturday. Although, three girls broke the coveted seven second barrier in the 55-meter dash prelims, none were Virginians, but Holland (GT Academy/Princess Anne HS), a sophomore, and last year’s Virginia indoor Class 5 champion, grabbed the #4 seed for Sunday’s finals with a near personal-best time of 7.04.

She was outmatched in the final, finishing seventh in 7.11, behind winner Autumn Wilson of Texas, who posted a US #1 time of 6.81.

However, Holland would get about two hours rest between the 55-meter final and the 200. Would it be enough to pose a medal challenge?

Whyte also competed on Saturday evening, in the 300 meters, where she faced Pyatt in the same heat. However, that battle was anticlimactic, as Pyatt had already run the 4x400, and both runners crossed the line in roughly 39 seconds, Whyte (39.15) placed fourth, and Pyatt (39.43) was sixth.

However, Whyte’s freshman time of 37.81 in the 300 was #1 in Virginia last year. By comparison, her best 200 time (24.38) would need to improve quite a bit for the Heritage-Newport News HS freshman to do damage on the Virginia Beach Sports Center oval.

Pyatt, weary from the 400 and 300 on Saturday, was a late scratch in the 200. Holland went first in Heat 2 and gutted out a 24.89, which ended up being good for 12th overall. 

That left Whyte. The Heritage sophomore dug deep for a 24.21, but was nipped at the line by .01 by Wilson. Jackson, who was second in the 55 (6.84) ran in the next heat, but just missed beating either time with her 24.29 effort, good for fourth.

The winner, in a rarity, came from Heat 1 of 6, as freshman Avery Lewis of Wake Forest, NC, scored a one second plus heat win with an overall winning time of 23.91.

 

VA Showcase: How Virginians Fared on Sunday

The PWC Panthers stole the thunder from the rest of Virginia’s athletes on Sunday at the VA Showcase, turning in the lone win of the day for the Commonwealth. Their collective time of 1:27.52 thrust them to a VA #1 and US #2 standing, .29 seconds behind Run U Xpress, whom they defeated at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

York High’s Jennifer Wagner won the girls' pole vault with a leap of 11-6. Kettle Run sophomore Ashley Nickerson was third at 10 feet even.

Richmond Gold (sixth – 1:33.70) and Western Branch TC (seventh – 1:33.75) also broke into the top-eight.

Jayson Ward (L.C. Bird) blasted to a third-place finish in the 500 with a US #3 time of 1:02.92. Matthew Spicer was fifth in 1:05.30.

Xavier Jemison (McLean HS) just made it to the starting line after encountering a multi-mile back-up on eastbound Rte. 64 on the way to the Sports Center. However, in spite of having little opportunity to warmup, the junior also placed third, in the 1000, with a time of 2:33.28. On the girls’ side, Aniya Mosley (Ocean Lakes) was sixth in 3:01.24. In the In the non-invitational section, Dominion sophomore Cecelia Pugsley was fifth in 3:00.86.

Colgan’s Bryce Lentz was sixth in the seeded 2-mile run (9:23.76), while Zachary Morse (Oakton) was fourth in the non-invitational 3200-meter run with a time of 9:25.58. Hope Frost of Stonebridge School was fifth among girls, clocking 10:57.34.

Western Branch placed fifth in the invite girls 4x200, with a 1:43.92 effort.

Mechanicsville CC (8:29.68) and Tidewater Striders (8:32.93) were 5-6 in the boys’ 4x800 relay.

Nazir Imtohep (Western Branch) and Jayden Smith (St. Christopher’s) placed 6-7 in the 55-meter hurdle finals at 7.53 and 7.59.

Imtohep’s Bruin teammate Nylah Wiggins placed seventh in the girls’ 500 (1:17.87).

GT Academy’s Micayah Holland (Princess Anne) faltered at the start, but finished seventh in the girls invite 55-meter dash, timing out in 7.11. 

Holland, a 5-10 sophomore, also plays basketball for the nationally ranked Lady Cavaliers, and felt that the lack of track training in the days leading up to the Showcase may have infringed her performance; however, she was thrilled to make the finals.

“To make it to the finals with girls so talented was eye opening to me. I mean they train year-round, and I was on the (basketball) court all week before the meet getting ready for our season that we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to have (Note: Virginia Beach is one of the few school systems playing winter sports). My goal for the VA Showcase was to qualify for finals and I did, said Holland.

There was one regret from the weekend.

“A PR would have been the cherry on top (she ran a 7.04 in prelims compared to a 7.03 PR). But, it just wasn’t my time. It was Autumn Wilson’s day. 

Wilson won the event in a blistering 6.81. 

Finally, in the race that saw a new U20 record, the girls’ 4x800 relay, the Crozet Crew placed eighth in 9:56.47.

Late Saturday night, Fauquier High’s Stephanie Robson upset a stacked pack of triple jumpers to claim the event with a hop, skip, and jump of 40 feet, .5 inches.

Robson, who began the season with a best performance of 37-7 has steadily progressed up the ranks this winter. On December 29, she captured the technique Holiday Invitational, also at the Virginia Beach Sports Center with a 38-8 effort. The following week, the senior, representing the MVP League team, added just over nine inches, while winning the Grant Holloway Invitational in 39-5.25.

It capped a great weekend for Robson, who also earned a personal-best and third place finish in the long jump with a leap of 18-5.5.

Westfield’s Emma Seetoo, who won the Class 6 state long jump title as a freshman, was third in 38-8.25.

Also, on Saturday, the Track757 club won the girls 4x55-meter shuttle hurdle relay, with a time of 34.51.

VA Showcase: Virginians Compete on First Day; NOVA Athletic Wins Boys Distance Medley

 

The high school portion of this weekend’s VA Showcase accelerated into high gear on Saturday, with hundreds of Virginia athletes testing their skills against runners from all over the Mid-Eastern region, and in the case of invitational races, the country. Over 40 states were represented this weekend at the nation’s largest indoor track meet, held at the recently opened Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Virginia athletes enjoyed two relay wins on Saturday, and several top-eight performances scattered among the invitational events.

Most notably, the NOVA Athletic Club, featuring Loudoun Valley High runners, matched their female 4x1600 meter winning counterparts, and won the boys' distance medley in 10:30.95. The NOVA team featured the foursome of  Matt Smith (1200 - 3:10.17), Blake Moore (400 -  52.69), Aiden Soto (800 - 1:58.93), and Graham Mussmon (1600 - 4:29.16).

Kiaeem Thomas of Oscar Smith High and the Track757 club placed second in the high jump with a leap of 6-8, while Jada Foreman of Atlee High and the Richmond Heat club placed fourth for the girls at 5-4.

 McLean HS junior Xavier Jemison placed fifth in the faster heat of the boys 1600-meter invite  and seventh overall with a time of 4:21.09, pushing the Highlander to a #1 Virginia time.

Mussmon and Carly Wilkes (Glenvar) topped the Virginian boys and girls in the morning session of the 1600-meter run. Mussmon nipped the time of Ben Madrigal (Grafton) by .60 seconds to top state runners with a 4:28.61 time, while Wilkes placed eighth overall with a 5:11.62.

Four Virginians placed 4-5-6-7 in the boys invitational 300-meter, which was highlighted by a #2 US all-time performance of 32.77 by IMG’s Jayden Slade.

Matthew Spicer (#4 – 34.09) and Jayson Ward (#6 – 34.36), of L.C. Bird and Central Virginia Track Club, found the top-seven, as did Jaylen Berringer (#5 – 34.22) and Trei Thorogood (#7 – 34.36) of Freedom High in Woodbridge and the PWC Panthers track team.

Four Commonwealth throwers also placed in the shotput, with Jordae Edwards (#4 – 52-1.75) and Atrell Williams (#6 – 51-8) of Grassfield High joining Loudoun Valley’s Thomas Gaertner (#5 – 51-9) and Grafton sophomore Shinobu Hawk (#8 – 47-5.25). All were entered as unattached athletes. 

Caroline Bowe of Midlothian High placed eighth among a national all-star field in the girls 1600 meters, but broke the five-minute barrier for the first time of her indoor career at 4:59.48. Bowe, best known as a 1000-meter standout with her Class 5 championship in the event last year, had never broken 5:10 in the 1600-meter or mile event before yesterday.

The girls 55-meter hurdle trials were brutal for state athletes as 10 runners broke the 8.20 barrier. Jahnelle Saunders (Bethel) led the Virginia contingent with an 8.19 clocking, but her tenth place finish was not good enough to advance.

The boys fared better, with two hurdlers Jayden Smith (Central Virginia Track and Field) and Nazir Imhotep (Western Branch TC) advancing to Sunday’s finals. Smith was fifth in 7.48, while Imhotep snuck into the eighth and final slot with a time of 7.55.

 

 

 

Axsom's Army Nets 30 medals at AAU Nationals

The Axsom Dojo finished out their 2020 competition campaign on a positive note, netting 30 medals at the 2020 AAU National Championships and Team Trials. 

Due to the COVID-19 virus, the championships, which were supposed to take place in July, and then again in October of 2020 at the ESPN Wild World of Sports in Orlando, FL was reconfigured, as the AAU organized a Virtual Online National Championships where competitors and coaches could video submit entries for the following categories: Kata (Empty Hand Forms), Kobudo (Weapons Forms), Team Kata, Family Kata, and Team Kobudo. 

This format was a first for the Newport News based dojo, but Axsom's Army was steadfast and undeterred, as it competed in this first-ever virtual national championships. Below are the results spread from among four teams for Team Kata.

TEAM Kata:

18-34-year-olds: Will Whitaker, Austin Galeski, and Shaun Coles (SILVER Medal/Cup); Ryan Sigsbee, Anna Deller, and Jabari Smith (GOLD Medal/Cup) 

15-16-year-olds: Brett Fallen, Alex Tomaino, and Braeden Monroe; Miranda Chellis Martinez, Daniela Chellis Martinez, and Maimouna Ouattara

13-14-year-olds: Hunter Feicht, Matthew Thomas, and Joe Fuscia (GOLD Medal/Cup)

9-10-year-olds: Conner Strickland, Amari Mathews, and Jalyn Wilks (Bronze Medal/Cup).

Kata Results:

18-34-year-old Male - Austin Galeski (Bronze Medal)

15-16-year-old Male - Alex Tomaino (Silver Medal); Brett Fallen (Bronze Medal)

5-6-year-old Male - Daniel Carney (Bronze Medal)

Kobudo Results:

18-34-year-old Male LONG Kobudo Advance (Bo and Eaku) - Austin Galeski (Silver Medal); Will Whitaker (Bronze Medal)

18-34-year-old Male SHORT Kobudo Advance (Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Nunchaku) - Austin Galeski (Bronze Medal)

18-34-year-old Female LONG Kobudo Advance - Jessica Sigsbee (Bronze Medal)

18-34-year-old Female SHORT Kobudo Advance - Jessica Sigsbee (Silver Medal)

15-16-year-old Male Novice - Brett Fallen (Silver Medal); Alex Tomaino (Bronze Medal)

13-14-year-old Male Intermediate - Joe Fuscia (Bronze Medal)

11-12-year-old Male Beginner - Ryan Wartell (GOLD Medal)

9-10-year-old Male Beginner - Moustapha Ouattara (Bronze Medal)

9-10-year-old Female Beginner - Coley Carney (Bronze Medal) 

7-8-year-old Female Beginner - Shianne Medlin (GOLD Medal)

5-6-year-old Male Beginner - Daniel Carney (GOLD Medal)

In total, the dojo had 23 total competitors and brought home a total of 30 medals for team and individual events.

T. Tyler Reflects on Breakthrough Year at Army

(As seen on Recruit757.com)

Several players from the Peninsula region made an indelible mark on the college football landscape in the fall of 2020, most notably Butkus Award winning linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Bethel HS/Notre Dame) and wide receiver Dazz Newsome (Hampton High/Univ. North Carolina). Both players are expected to be picked early in the upcoming NFL draft, with Owusu-Koramoah, a first-team All-American, slated as a potential lottery selection.

But perhaps no player’s ascent to collegiate gridiron royalty this fall was more surprising than Tyhier Tyler’s. 

Tyler (Class of 2022, 5-8 185), a 2017 graduate of Woodside High in Newport News, has successfully, and against stiff odds, made the transition from Wolverine triple-option quarterback under coach Danny Dodson, to high school graduate (with honors), West Point Prep school student, West Point cadet, football player, and finally starting Army QB in a remarkable four-year period that has blasted him on to the national spotlight as the result of several televised events.

In the first, Tyler, who was elevated to share the starting position in Week 6 with freshman Cade Ballard, helped to lead the Black Knights to a 28-16 win over the University of Texas – San Antonio. In that game, Tyler ran for 95 yards, which included a 37-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, one that proved to be the pivotal score as it stretched the Army lead to 21-10. 

The following week, Tyler and Ballard combined to earn co-Commander-in-Chief MVP honors in a 49-3 win over Mercer. In that game, he led the team with 77 rushing yards while throwing his first NCAA pass (an incompletion).

Although the Knights record stood at 6-1, neither signal caller would play in the next game, a 38-12 loss to Tulane. Such is life when playing for a military academy team with a roster of 155 players, including six quarterbacks, all of whom saw playing time in 2020.

But Tyler earned the reins of the offense again just before Week 9, and led Army to a comeback 28-27 win over Georgia Southern. With 121 yards on the ground, he became the fifth Army rusher to top the century mark, a team record. 

He would remain behind center for the final four games, including the prestigious annual Army-Navy game, a 15-0 Army win.

It was the Army-Navy game, seen by tens of millions of viewers worldwide, that Tyler earned his first showcase moment, and made the most of it, carrying the ball 19 times for 96 yards and the game’s only touchdown. 

In the days following the win over Navy, he faced one more surprise encounter, from the Secretary of the Army, Gen. Ryan D. McCarthy, who presented Tyler with a commemorative coin from his office for “Outstanding Service to the Nation,” while letting his team’s quarterback know that he “liked my style of play.”

Finally, in the Liberty Bowl, Tyler and the Black Knights battled West Virginia for four quarters, only to fall short 24-21, ending the season with a 9-3 record.

In the Liberty Bowl, Tyler scored all three of Army’s touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards. The three rushing TD’s tied a Liberty Bowl record. For the season, he led the Black Knights with 578 yards on 139 carries with five TD’s), boosting the redshirt freshman to a first-team All-Independent honors at quarterback.

For the Newport News native, taking over the offense for his Army team was more about honoring the commitments to duty and honor that he has developed at the Point.

“Any time I get the chance to lead my teammates in a game it’s an honor and a blessing,” said Tyler, who is currently enjoying a mini-winter break before heading back to New York. “I love my teammates, so having the ability to lead them in the postseason meant a lot.”

He also expressed an obligation to the other team leaders. Speaking of the Liberty Bowl experience, he added, “The chip on our shoulder was our seniors. We wanted to send our seniors out with a bang, and we also wanted to show the college football world we belong. West Virginia was a very good team and very well coached. They were the better team when we played.”

Still, the accolades continue to pour in for Army, coached by Jeff Monken (43-21, and four bowl games in the last five years). The Knights won the Commander-in-Chief trophy over rivals Navy and Air Force. And with many young players returning to key roles, the future looks bright over the Hudson.

For the next few weeks, however, there is a reflection on the events of December. “Ultimately, I am upset we didn’t come out on top, but looking around the locker room and evaluating myself, we gave it all we had and we fought hard.”

And the goals for 2021 remain intact. In a parting thought, Tyler looked ahead. “Our path to defending the Commander in Chief trophy starts now, and we will be back to getting over that hump of beating a Power 5 school.”

Charles Nuttycombe, Newport News Coaching Legend, Passes at 90

Charles Nuttycombe, a United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Hall of Famer, and arguably one of the greatest multi-sport coaches in Virginia history passed away on December 4 in his hometown of Newport News, VA. He was 90 years old.

It was in Newport News that Nuttycombe made his mark as a coach, but his athletic story began in Richmond, where he was a star athlete at Thomas Jefferson High. At Jefferson, Nuttycombe was the Outstanding Athlete of his 1950 senior class, excelling in football and track, and winning a state championship in the broad jump.

His original plan was to focus on football, and Nuttycombe accepted a gridiron offer to play for the Virginia Military Institute. Eventually, he would transfer to Randolph-Macon College where he lettered in football, track, and basketball. He was the 1955 football team captain and three-time track team captain. Throughout his Yellow Jacket college career, he earned 13 state champion titles in various events.

After graduating from the Ashland school, Nuttycombe relocated to Newport News and began his teaching and coaching career. His first stop was the legendary Newport News High, where the young coach studied under Julie Conn. In 14 years with the Typhoon, his track teams won a combined 14 state championships. In 1961, he embarked on his football coaching career, which at NNHS was highlighted by his undefeated team in 1962 (9-0-1). 

In 1970, Nuttycombe moved several miles north to midtown to begin his career at the fledgling Menchville High. Over the next 20 years, he would cement his name as an all-time coaching legend, building the football and track teams from the ground up with the Monarchs.

While his football teams posted a record of 150-108-18, and buoyed five athletes to the NFL, it was track and field that sealed his Hall of Fame career. Nuttycombe’s teams recorded a dual meet record of 125-3-2, and he personally coached state champions in every individual event except one. Between Newport News and Menchville High Schools, he took part in 23 indoor or outdoor state team championships.

According to his obituary, Nuttycombe’s list of accolades was long and included an honor as the 1990 Virginia HS Coaches Distinguished Service Award. On the national level, he was awarded the inaugural United States National High School Track Coach of the Year Award in 1975. In 2005, he became one of only four high school coaches to be inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 2014 his son Ed (University of Wisconsin head coach) followed his father into the Hall of Fame and they remain the only father-son combination. He is also a member of the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame (1992), Menchville High School Hall of Fame (2005), Newport News Public School Track and Field Hall of Fame (1991). In 2014 he became a member of the Lower Virginia Peninsula Hall of Fame, as well as being inducted into the Randolph Macon College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Nuttycombe’s presence in Newport News athletics did not disappear with his retirement. In the early-2000’s, he could be found at Todd Stadium working out with his middle schooler grandson Graham Wilson, who would go on to be the Monarch’s top distance runner (and tennis player) for all four of his high school years. Daughter Jennifer Nuttycombe has been the athletic director at Warwick High for over a decade.

Nuttycombe is survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 69 years, six children and 15 grandchildren.

There will be a Charles Nuttycombe Memorial Scholarship Fund established at Menchville High School. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made at: www.weymouthfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home in Newport News, VA.

 

Peninsula Road Racing - Sika Henry Breaks Three Hours for Marathon; Yorktown Battlefield 10-Mile

 Exactly three years removed from missing the three-hour marathon barrier by a mere six seconds, Newport News resident Sika Henry seemed content to focus her attention on another lofty goal – to become the first African-American female to reach the professional ranks of the triathlon.

This was on March 12, 2020. By the end of that day, life as she, and everyone else, would know it, had changed entirely.

But where others saw uncertainty, Henry saw an opportunity.

“I’ve had this goal (breaking three hours) since 2017 when I came super close and ran 3:00:06 (fourth among women at the One City Marathon). I wanted to try it again, but it never fit well with my triathlon training and schedule. My coach (Jonny Caron) mostly had me focus on the swim and bike, my (triathlon) weaknesses, in order to make me a competitive triathlete,” said Henry, whose triathlon events for 2020 began to cancel, leaving her empty-handed for competitions.

“Once COVID hit, and my triathlons were rescheduled to next year, as well as having limited access to pools, my coach and I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to try and break three hours.”

She started by running enough miles to try an even longer event, a 50-kilometer (31.1-mile) race. Her first potential race, at the Noland Trail, was canceled. In the true spirit of the loneliest runner, Henry ran the event – virtually.

“On October 11, Steven Keller paced me through a 50K. Three loops by my house. We used my driveway as an aid station.”

Henry covered the distance through Newport News and Hampton in 3:45. “I knew I was fit enough to break three hours after that. Luckily, Tidewater Striders offered a marathon!”

Henry ran an 18:23 5K to prepare for the speed work. As she notes in her blog, “Coach Jonny's instructions were to run 5:55/5:55/then all out the last mile. On a good day, I thought I could run 18:15. I just had nothing left in the tank on that last mile. Between the high run volume, and still somewhat recovering from that 50K, sub-18 was out of the question. Still, I was happy with the effort and elated that I finally got to do an actual in-person race.”

On November 21, Henry lined up with a strict mile-by-mile plan for breaking three hours, and one which essentially instructed not to run the first half of the race in about an hour and thirty minutes. Although the race started out quick, with a number of sub-six minute miles, Henry hit the midway point in 1:29:57.

Keeping with her coach’s instructions, Henry pulled a negative split, running the second half of the race faster than the first. In the end, her final time of 2:57:13 was good for third among women, seventh overall, and #16 all-time for African-American female marathoners.

Henry's own story of the race can be found on her blog site at why-i-run.blogspot.com.

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Roger Hopper (53:37) and Jenny Moran (1:06:26) won the men's and women's races at last weekend's Yorktown Battlefield 10-Miler.

The race was the first for the PTC since March. Locally, Williamsburg's Sorenna Jean was the lone Peninsula runner to score in the top-three, as the Jamestown graduate placed third among women in 1:11:38.

TOP OVERALL MEN

1 1 ROGER HOPPER 29 CHESAPEAKE VA 53:37 

2 2 ANDRE GALLANT 22 SUFFOLK VA 56:56 

3 3 DANIEL SHEAN 37 VIRGINIA BEACH VA 1:01:38 

TOP OVERALL WOMEN

1 12 JENNY MORAN 42 VIRGINIA BEACH VA 1:06:26 

2 25 EKATERINA AARON 22 NORFOLK VA 1:10:18 

3 27 SORENNA JEAN 18 WILLIAMSBURG VA 1:11:38 

TOP MASTERS MEN

1 5 TOBY WORM 47 SMITHFIELD VA 1:02:37 6:16

TOP MASTERS WOMEN

1 32 JULIE HICKS 45 VIRGINIA BEACH VA 1:14:07 

As reported by Bruce Davis of the Peninsula Track Club ---

The 2020 edition of the Yorktown Battlefield 10-Mile Run was held under somewhat challenging running conditions; sunny, but windy and cold with temperatures in the low 50s at race start, but dropping during the event.  238 runners entered the 10-Mile Run for the Heart with 199 completing the 10 Mile course on the scenic Yorktown Battlefield.

Two new age group course records for the Yorktown Battlefield 10-Mile Run were set today.

For men 75-79, Louis Dwyer, 77 of Southern Shores, NC set a new age group record with a time of 1:33:03 beating out the time of 1:38:51 set by Ronald Kellum in 2019.

For women 65-69, Joey Hallock, 67 of Virginia Beach, VA set a new age group record with a time of 1:18:53 besting the previous time of 1:24:26 set by Joan Coven in 2006.

Finish line and results services were provided by the Peninsula Track Club.  A copy of the results, links to pictures from the race, and listings for future road races can be found on the PTC website: www.peninsulatrackclub.com. 

Axsom's Army Wins 22 Medals in West Virginia Tourney

 On November 14, the Axsom dojo, headed by Sensei John "Bull Moose" Axsom, competed in the 1st Traditional Karate Tournament, which was held in St. Albany, WV. The tournament was hosted by the USA Martial Arts Foundation, and US National Karate Foundation Board member, Sensei Roger Jarrett. 

The categories were Kobudo (weapon forms), Kata (empty hand forms), and kumite (sparring). As has become customary over the past several years, Axsom's Army placed well. Even with one of their smallest contingents in reent memory (nine martial artists), the Newport News crew brought home a total of 22 medals. A breakdown of awards by age division and level. 

ADVANCED DIVISION:

18-34 Men - Austin Galeski - Bronze Kumite

14-15 Men - Ryan Sigsbee - Bronze Kata & Silver Kumite

12-13 Men - Jaylen Nicholson - Silver Kata, Silver Kumite & Bronze Kobudo 

10-11 Men - Amiyr Gordon - Bronze Kobudo, Silver Kata, Gold Kumite

NOVICE DIVISION:

16-17 Men - Alex Tomaino - Silver Kobudo, Bronze Kata & Kumite

14-15 Men - Brett Fallen - GOLD in Kobudo,  Kata, & Kumite

8-9 Men - Lucas Ramey - Silver Kobudo 

6-7 Men - Chris Gordon - Silver Kata, GOLD Kobudo &  Kumite

6-7 Women - Shianne Medlin - Bronze Kobudo & Kumite, Gold in Kata

William and Mary to Reinstate Dropped Sports

(From TribeAthletics.com)

William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe announced today the university will reset its process to determine long-term sustainability for W&M Athletics. As part of that reset, Rowe said, W&M men's athletics teams slated for reclassification will continue as Division I sports through at least 2021-22, in order to take a phased approach that allows for a gender equity review paired with exploration of alternative solutions leading to a long-term financial plan. 

The decision follows a recommendation from Interim Director of Athletics Jeremy P. Martin following his review of the decision announced Sept. 3, 2020, to discontinue seven of William & Mary's 23 Division I varsity sports – Men's and Women's Gymnastics, Men's and Women's Swimming, Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field, and Women's Volleyball. 

Equity, financial sustainability and excellence

Martin's report concludes that long-term solutions must be found within three frames – equity, financial sustainability and excellence. Recommendations include completing the department-wide gender equity review before deciding the scope of the varsity sports program W&M can realistically support; establishing defined fundraising goals for each team; engaging the entire W&M community in the conversation about excellence; and establishing a sustainable program that will achieve gender equity during the 2022-23 academic year.

"Since early last month, we have been engaged in a conversation about how to structure William & Mary's Division I athletics offerings in a way that is equitable, financially sustainable and excellent," Rowe said. "I appreciate that this has been an especially painful time for the students involved in the sports cut on September 3rd to endure.

"Many in our community – student-athletes, coaches, alumni, faculty and other supporters – have responded with passion, offering alternative solutions to the challenges facing the department," said Rowe, adding she is grateful for Martin's swift and thorough work over the past month to assess the path forward for W&M Athletics. "His recommendations address the reality that the athletics community needs time to confront together forthrightly: a status quo that is unsustainable with respect both to finances and mission." 

Review results in a phased approach

When Martin assumed the role of Interim Director of Athletics on Oct. 6, 2020, Rowe directed him to review the Sept. 3 plan, and asked that a report be completed by early November to minimize the uncertainty for those most directly affected. 

Martin reached out to coaches and student-athletes, met with representatives of the affected teams, coordinated with the Tribe Club Board and the W&M Foundation Athletics Committee, met with the Faculty Assembly and led a series of moderated community sessions.

While that process was underway, the university received notice of intent to sue on the grounds that the announced plan, including the cuts and the associated roster adjustments in other sports, did not in fact meet the Title IX standards. An institution may demonstrate compliance through any one of a three-prong test: substantial proportionality, a history of and continued program expansion for the underrepresented sex, or full and effective accommodation of the interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex. After a detailed review, Martin concluded that given the suit, the law and the university's desire to move quickly to achieve gender equity, the three women's sports should be restored. 

Accordingly, on Oct. 19 the university agreed to a settlement of the suit and announced that Women's Gymnastics, Women's Swimming and Women's Volleyball will continue as Division I varsity sports. Those restorations moved the university closer to its goal of achieving gender equity, but more work was required. The university committed to being in full compliance during 2022-2023 and to completing a thorough gender equity review and plan before September 2021. 

Martin subsequently completed his review of all the dimensions of the Sept. 3 plan, including the suspension of the four men's teams – Men's Gymnastics, Men's Swimming, and Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field. He concluded that despite the very real and pressing financial challenges, the university should take more time to consider the best path for W&M Athletics going forward, in order to rebuild confidence, explore potential financial support and develop broader understanding of the challenges faced. 

"My review made it crystal clear that the Sept. 3 rollout and the subsequent identification of flaws in the plan's proposed implementation of the gender equity component led to legitimate questions within the W&M community," Martin said. "We should bring the same thoughtful, phased planning and execution the university used in dealing with COVID-19 to the challenges facing W&M Athletics. The next year and a half will give us the opportunity to do just that."  

Future decisions pending gender equity, financial review

Based on Martin's assessment and recommendations, Rowe requested completion of the gender equity review and aggressive exploration of financial alternatives before moving forward with decisions about the scope of programs that can be supported. The university remains committed to achieving gender equity during 2022-23, and future reclassifications may well be required unless W&M establishes a new financial path. To address significant financial shortfalls this year and in coming years, the department will also create a new cost-reduction plan, as other departments at William & Mary have been asked to do.

"Going forward, William & Mary Athletics cannot fulfill its commitments to provide an equitable and excellent environment for learning and competing in Division I, under its prior financial model," Rowe said. "Director Martin has outlined a clear and hopeful path to achieving those essential goals with an operational footing that could be sustainable beyond 2020, if the milestones the department will establish are reached."

Martin said he recognizes that William & Mary could well have to face the same very difficult decisions to become compliant during  2022-23, but noted that with an additional year and a half to prepare, the university will be in a much better position to deal with the challenges as a united community. He added that the financial challenges, even for this year, remain very real, and he is committed to a strong partnership with University Advancement, the Tribe Club and the W&M Foundation to meet the challenge head on. A $1.5 million challenge grant announced last month by an anonymous donor for women's athletic scholarships, made in support of Rowe and the university's commitment to gender equity, is an important step forward, he said.

 Martin added that based on his conversations with supporters of each team, he is counting on them to find funds to cover operating costs and beyond that, to ensure the teams can be sustained and thrive going forward, via endowments. W&M Athletics has posted annual fundraising goals for each program through 2022 while shared solutions are sought, and contacts for each sport. Additional targets for scholarships and capital endowment will be shared in early spring.

 "There is a great deal to be done, and the time for us to step up and work together on shared solutions is here," Martin said. "I am getting to know our incredible student-athletes, coaches and staff, and I have seen the passion our alumni have for our programs. I am confident we will be able to move forward together and emerge even stronger.

 

(As seen on UltimateRecruit.com) Super Takes the Reins of Kecoughtan High Football

As if being a first-year coach wasn’t enough of a challenge, Jeff Super, the new head whistle of the Kecoughtan High football team, has adopted a program that has been interrupted by a pandemic, a truncated practice schedule, and a season-opening contest against one of the stalwart teams in his Peninsula District and a coach who has almost 500 more career victories.

And to listen to Super, that is all just fine. He’s just ready to prepare his team and start playing games.

There are plenty of reasons for his enthusiasm. Aside from youthful energy (Super will turn 30 on November 5), the new Warrior coach has walked into a program trending upward again. In spite of a 1-9 finish in 2019, things are looking good for Super and his Woodland Road band.

The first perk benefitted all of the Hampton teams equally, but it’s hard to complain about a brand-new weight room.

“This went way beyond my wildest dreams,” said Super, who has test-driven the lifting equipment along with some of his assistant coaches. “We have eight all-purpose racks and eight platform racks. The whole thing must have cost 350-400 thousand dollars!”

As far as using the equipment goes, Super quipped, “You want to test drive the Ferrari, not the ’95 pick-up truck.”

Along with the aesthetic improvements in the athletic wing, the first-year ball coach is excited with the renewed excitement surrounding his team. “With the new room, it’s an ooh and aah kind of thing. But we need something like this to keep kids interested.” That takes care of step one, but there is more to do. “It is up to us as coaches to keep the competitive attitude going.”

Part of the goal is to keep the team numbers up. “We have about 75-80 kids right now between the varsity and jayvee,” said Super. “The good news is that we have 30 freshmen. We want to keep 30 freshmen every year, and that way, we should have 120 players in four years.”

For this season, Super is looking at four particular players to provide leadership and experience to the “fairly younger” Warrior contingent.

Peyton Douglas (c/o 2022, 5-11 195, RB/ILB) is a player who should get a lot of looks FCS, D2, or D3 teams according to Super. He will be the primary ball carrier.

Jason Freeman (c/o 2022, 5-9 185, ILB/MLB) will give the Warriors some strength behind the defensive line. “He’s an aggressive kid,” says his coach.

Richard Fox (c/o 2022, 6-3 270, OL/DL) gives Kecoughtan size on both sides of the ball. He is a returning starter.

And Gabe Simon (c/o 2022, 6-2 185, WR) will be relied on to lead the Warrior receiving crew.

Super’s coaching staff will be driven by brother Zachary, Courtney Connor (defensive coordinator), and Zachary James (defensive backs/special teams).

Their job will be a tough one. The Warriors will hold no scrimmage games, and then open the season late next winter against Hampton High and coach Mike Smith (493 career wins). Kecoughtan will play through the first six games of its original schedule to complete the regular season.

Hopper, Honeycutt Win September CRR 5K's

At least one sport has finally figured out a way to renew its season. Even though it is not on any high school or college athletic schedule, make no mistake that hundreds of athletes have been happy to see road racing start again on the Peninsula.

In fact, the area Colonial Road Racers started back to business in late June, when the Virginia Regional Ballet 5K kickstarted a racing agenda that had been stagnant for three and a half months.

The CRR sponsored two races in September, and the latest results indicate that several local runners are showing no effects of the layoff.

Two harriers in particular, Roger Hopper and Emily Honeycutt, won both races – the D.O.G. Street Pandemic 5K on September 5, and the Powhatan Creek 5K, held two weeks later.

At the Duke of Gloucester Street race, Hopper enjoyed a 42-second cushion over Jacob Warner to break the tape first in 15:44. Jamestown High standout Luke Tompkins was third in 16:38, ten seconds ahead of his father, Jamestown coach, and Masters’ winner Mark Tompkins (16:48).

Honeycutt was pushed more, but seized the “W” with a time of 19:48. Jenny Moran of Virginia Beach gave a worthwhile chase, but ended up in the runner-up spot, just six seconds back in 19:54. Annie Gilbride of Providence Forge was third in 22:16.

The most noteworthy event of the morning may have been the performance of Stephen Chantry. Chantry has eased well into the 65-69 age group, and his age group winning time of 18:58 beat the old CRR age group 5K record, for any sponsored race) of 19:52 by almost a full minute. The eight-year-old record had been held by Jim Thornton, who posted the time at the Governor’s Landing 5K.

At the Powhatan Creek 5K, Hopper broke the course record of 16:13, but he was pushed to the edge by the former record holder, Williamsburg’s Will Thompson, who placed second in 16:10, just five seconds behind the victor.

Honeycutt’s winning time of 20:16 placed her 15 seconds ahead of Saylor Burris (20:31), who at 17, did break the age group course record for women 15-19.

Other age group records were broken by Cooper Hurst (men’s 15-19, 16:43), Roswitha Goossens-Winter (women’s 70-74, 33:09), Rick Samaha (men’s 60-64, 20:20), and Randy Hawthorne (men’s 75-79, 27:58).

 

Peninsula Sports History - A Look Back - BLM in 1968 - McCaskill and Keyes of Newport News Protest at Purdue U.

While the current Black Lives Matter movement is impacting society and aiming to prompt thoughtful reflection and discussion among Americans, many of us are reminded that the fight against racism has not seen such a bold movement since 1968. As it turns out, two of the greatest athletes in the history of the Virginia Peninsula, former NFL great Leroy Keyes, and All-American track athlete Eric McCaskill, were two catalysts for one such movement - a pair of protests at their school - Purdue University.  (Below - Keyes, McCaskill, and former Purdue teammate, NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese)

I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. McCaskill through our shared time at local track meets at the Booplex, and was reminded of a story he shared with me several years ago. Ironically, he recently resent the story of the Purdue protests to a select group, and I was pleased to be on the list. Here is their story, unfiltered ---

In this time of civil unrest and the festering wound of structural racism being exposed and having a global impact, African American athletes are once again using their platforms to offer remedies for this major malady!

It was over 50 years ago, the African American Students at Purdue University participated in two protests!

The first was in May 1968, a month after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Over 100 African American Students marched in silence with paper bags containing red bricks (symbolic of the red brick buildings at Purdue) to the Administration Building! The "Silent Protest" was organized by Homer LaRue (now a law professor at Howard University), and Linda Jo Mitchell (also in academia and continues activism for human rights for African Americans).

There were nine Demands, one of which was the need for an African American full professor was met. Dr. Helen Bass Williams came from an HBCU, Tougaloo College in Mississippi where she worked with famous Civil Rights Activist, Fannie Lou Hamer.

It was an act of Providence for Dr. Williams to arrive at the time Eric McCaskill had the vision for the Black Cultural Center. She was the key advisor by preparing McCaskill to present the vision to President Frederick Hovde.

The other eight demands, especially for inclusion in campus life and housing discrimination were not met.

There were other peaceful protests in 1968 by African American Athletes (especially after the "Black Fists" salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics) which led to the arrest of Heisman candidate and All-American Football Player, Leroy Keyes, former Carver High School (now Crittenden Middle School) in Newport News, VA. Keyes was voted the Greatest Football Player in 100 years of Purdue Football (over Bob Griese, Len Dawson, Lamar Lundy, and Drew Brees).

A year later, in March of 1969, McCaskill, a member of the Purdue 1967 Rose Bowl Champions Team,  former six-time State Champion in the high and low hurdles (in Virginia) and holder of four National High School records in the hurdles (a Newport News native and Huntington High School alum) presented the vision for a Black Cultural Center! He now considers it a vision from God!

Later that month, McCaskill and fellow track athletes challenged the clean-shaven rule as being culturally biased.

The seven African Americans on the team decided that they would not shave and showed up at the Purdue Airport to board a plane to the University of Iowa for a track meet!

When they arrived at the Airport, Mel Harris (another Newport News Native), Jimmy Jackson (national high school record holder in 880 yard run and a native of Brooklyn, NY), and McCaskill did not shave. The assistant coach told them that they did could not go, and McCaskill made an impulsive statement. He said: "If I had a bomb, I would blow the plane up!"

The assistant coach said that McCaskill said he planted a bomb on the plane (which was not possible with an airport secured fence).

The pilot heard what the assistant coach said and panicked and refused to fly.

Airport authorities called the FBI. McCaskill was detained and interrogated.

After the bomb squad from Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis arrived and determined that there was no bomb, McCaskill was released from FBI interrogation.

An hour later, the Indiana State Police arrived at the Airport and arrested McCaskill for disorderly conduct and he was taken to the jail in West Lafayette, IN.

Because the Dean of Humanities and McCaskill's Academic Advisor knew McCaskill's character and being an Honor Student, the Dean paid the bond for McCaskill.

The incident was on national TV networks. McCaskill's Mother, Iona Williams+ McCaskill+Thomas was living in Manhattan preparing to attend the famous Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, pastored by Rev. and Rep. Adam Clayton Powell (the first African American Congressman) when she heard about the incident on NBC's Huntley-Brinkley Nightly News. While ironing in preparation to attend Abyssinian the next day (Sunday), she dropped the iron reacting to her son's arrest! 

In preparation for the court hearing, African American Students rallied around McCaskill and marched to the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, IN. 

After the charge was dropped, McCaskill and his fellow Purdue Students marched from the Courthouse to the Purdue Administration Building to present the vision for the Black Cultural Center!

This time the students entered the building to see President Hovde (the Administration Building is named after him). 

President Hovde was out of town. Rather than turn back, McCaskill requested that his secretary locate him and put him on the phone.

Rev. Mrs. Linda "Duchess" McCaskill made a profound observation. Had her husband turned around, the momentum would have slowed down and the opportunity to present the vision for a Black Cultural Center could have been lost!

After talking with President Hovde on the phone, the McCaskill Ad Hoc Committee was established to discuss the need for a Black Cultural Center.

Out of what could have been a negative outcome for McCaskill (police abuse, loss of scholarship, and dismissal from the University), the Purdue Black Cultural Center was approved on June 6, 1969!

The story can be seen in the documentary film, "Black Purdue" on You Tube and Google (see link below). 

Keyes and McCaskill are also in the book, "Ever True, 150 Years of Giant Leaps at Purdue University." The book is about the 150-year history of Purdue. The author, John Norberg, gives a concise history of Purdue beginning with the founder John Purdue in 1869, to the first African American graduate in 1894, to the War years, to Civil Rights era, to Purdue Astronauts/Neil Armstrong/Gus Grissom/Gene Cernan, to Don Thompson, the first and only CEO, McDonald's Corp, to the founding of the National Society of Black Engineers to present day at Purdue.

The book can be purchased on Amazon, Book Shop, and Purdue University Book Stores.

There are also links about interviews with McCaskill.

It has been 52 years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos used the power of media on a national platform to protest structural racism and abusive policing on Citizens of the African Diaspora in the USA!  And it's been 51years since Newport News athletes, Leroy Keyes and Eric McCaskill stood up for the human rights of students of the African Diaspora at Purdue University!

McCaskill continues to seek to ameliorate conditions for the historically marginalized and dehumanized.

Through the Alpha & Omega Institute for Family Preservation, the McCaskills seek to build bridges of goodwill between Citizens of Color and Police Officers! In 2014, they launched the PACCT (Police And Concerned Citizens Together) Initiative to accomplish this goal!

Now that we all know that "Black Lives Matter," let's prevent lethal force by police officers by implementing the PACCT Initiative and other initiatives/programs/strategies that seek to remedy the egregious history of structural racism in America!

In the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by bad people, but the silence over that by the good people."

The athletes are concerned citizens who are not fostering the "ultimate tragedy" if silence in times of a moral crisis!

God's Grace has been in America for years. The question is how long will He tolerate what He, a Loving God hates, blaspheming the Virtues of His Holy Spirit: Caring, Compassion, Faithfulness,  Forgiveness

Integrity, Kindness, Respect, Unity, and most of all Love!

The McCaskills are working to make America great within by building morally strong families with the evidence-based Five Strategies of the global Virtues Project!

For more information contact: Linda "Duchess" McCaskill at 757.719.2051 or email: duchessmc3@gmail.com.

www.aonet.org

https://youtu.be/lMaQyMyQpDc

https://youtu.be/hkcbztci7Vg

https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=639286373241552&_rdr

Response from Adam Otstot as William and Mary Plans to Drop Seven Sports, Including Men's Track & Field

By Adam Otstot

I am a proud William and Mary Alum ('04, '07).  As a high school senior, one of my most vivid memories was sitting down at my desk in the spring with two acceptance letters: one from the University of Virginia, and the other from the College of William and Mary.  I had two successful visits, and I could envision a promising future with either choice.  The College's overall size, clear undergraduate teaching focus, and location were huge selling points, but the one thing that made the decision for me was an opportunity to run Division I Cross Country and Track and Field.  At the time, my athletic accomplishments were solid, but nothing that would have caught the eye of a Division I coach.  Coach Gerard at W&M was open to letting me walk-on, and it was that opportunity that elevated W&M as THE school for me.  I became part of the Tribe Family, and it was the best decision I could have made.      

In my time at William and Mary, I was involved in several extracurricular activities.  In addition to being a student-athlete, I was a four-year member of I.T., the improvisation theatre campus group, and I participated regularly in the Wesley Foundation.  While each activity provided learning experiences and growth opportunities, it was my time running that had the most profound impact on my life.  I quickly found that I thrived in the environment.  By my junior year, I earned the chance to represent W&M as we finished 14th in the NCAA Cross Country Championships.  On the track I found similar success, earning All-Conference accolades all four years and capping off my career as the 2003 Scholar Athlete of the Year in Cross County and as the CAA Champion in the 3000m Steeplechase.  To be competitive on the conference, regional, and national stages required consistent training and racing, and my development as an athlete was aided in large part by the three season structure of cross country, indoor, and outdoor track.  Without that consistent application of stress I may have realized success within the team, but I would have been at a huge disadvantage when competing against other schools, along with the rest of my teammates.

My growth was not limited to physical feats and the lifelong camaraderie that was forged between me and my teammates; as a Kinesiology major, I was able to use what I learned on the track and apply those lessons in the classroom.  I became fanatical about exploring the limits of my body and finding the science behind why those limits exist and how I could get closer to them.  It was the most exhilarating exercise in authentic learning I could have ever dreamt of.

My experiences as a student-athlete at William and Mary thoroughly prepared me for my post-collegiate careers as a health and physical education teacher, a professional triathlete, a high performance coach, and currently, as a health and physical education curriculum specialist.

I am urging for a serious and thorough reconsideration of the decision to discontinue men's track and field, one of William and Mary’s most successful athletic programs, as announced on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020.  I experienced firsthand how powerful this program is to the current and future life of a William and Mary student, and I sincerely hope that a solution can be found to allow future students to feel its impact as well.

Save the Tribe 7 Save Tribe Track & Field William & Mary Tribe Athletics

https://savetribetrack.wixsite.com

https://www.change.org/p/william-mary-save-william-mary-athletics