Rahway Alumni Open up Collegiate Season
December 9, 2012
As high school winter track competition begins later this week, the collegiate competition is already underway. Several Rahway alumni began their indoor track seasons on a strong note. Jeremy Antivo ('11), a sophomore at American International College opened up with a win at the Jay Carisella Invitational at Northeastern University in his signature event, the One Mile run. Jeremy's winning time of 4:13 currently stands as no. 1 in the NCAA Division II rankings. Jeremy followed up on that win with a PR in the 3000m at the Harvard Open on December 8th. Not do be outdone, teammate Curtis Johnson ('10) also recorded a PR in the one mile run at Northeastern. Jamel Bolden-Presley ('12), a freshman at St. Peters College, opened up his collegiate career in stunning fashion, winning 5 of his first 7 collegiate races. Jamel has qualified for the IC4A Championships in the 60 meter hurdles and has already solidified himself as one of top hurdlers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Jalyn McCoy ('12) of Mansfield University and Jerrel Wilson ('12) of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, both opened their collegiate careers with PR performances. Jalyn recorded a PR in the 800m at the Cornell Relays, while Jerrel recorded an indoor PR split in the 4x400 relay at the Arkansas State Invitational. Nichelle Harris ('10) of Hampton University represented the Lady Indians in fine fashion placing top 5 at the CNU Collegiate Invite in both the mile and 3000m run.
As high school winter track competition begins later this week, the collegiate competition is already underway. Several Rahway alumni began their indoor track seasons on a strong note. Jeremy Antivo ('11), a sophomore at American International College opened up with a win at the Jay Carisella Invitational at Northeastern University in his signature event, the One Mile run. Jeremy's winning time of 4:13 currently stands as no. 1 in the NCAA Division II rankings. Jeremy followed up on that win with a PR in the 3000m at the Harvard Open on December 8th. Not do be outdone, teammate Curtis Johnson ('10) also recorded a PR in the one mile run at Northeastern. Jamel Bolden-Presley ('12), a freshman at St. Peters College, opened up his collegiate career in stunning fashion, winning 5 of his first 7 collegiate races. Jamel has qualified for the IC4A Championships in the 60 meter hurdles and has already solidified himself as one of top hurdlers in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Jalyn McCoy ('12) of Mansfield University and Jerrel Wilson ('12) of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, both opened their collegiate careers with PR performances. Jalyn recorded a PR in the 800m at the Cornell Relays, while Jerrel recorded an indoor PR split in the 4x400 relay at the Arkansas State Invitational. Nichelle Harris ('10) of Hampton University represented the Lady Indians in fine fashion placing top 5 at the CNU Collegiate Invite in both the mile and 3000m run.
Alumni Spotlight: Interview with Claire Connor Anderson
Q: How and why did you get involved with track & field?
A: It all started with the playground Olympics that were run by the parks and rec program of Rahway. It gave me a chance to do something in the summer time. When I ran, I felt free, we went to other parks to compete. It gave me a chance to leave my own neighborhood and meet other kids. The program had structure.
Q: How has being involved with the sport changed your life?
A: Track and Field allowed me to travel to different countries and experience various cultures. Track and Field also instilled in me a strong sense of discipline and allowed me to improve upon my leadership abilities. These skills are imperative in the working world, they help you become functioning contributing citizens.
Q: What was your breakthrough race or performance?
A: During my eleventh grade year, I won the USA National Jr Olympics in the long jump. We traveled to Canada to compete against other sixteen year olds from different countries. I placed third. That inspired me to continue with athletics.
Q: What is the greatest moment of your career and why?
A: Winning the USA National Championship in 1989 and representing the USA in the World Cup. It was the culmination of all my hard work in college.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments in track (besides the four school records you still hold)?
A: While running for Rahway High School, I was on two World Jr Teams one in eleventh grade and the other my senior year in which I competed overseas for the USA. I qualified for the Olympic Trials as a high school athlete and placed sixteenth overall. I am proud to have a full page picture in one of my USA uniforms in my school yearbook. I am also very happy that through my athletic accomplishments, I was able to give Rahway a lot of publicity in the newspapers.
Q: What did you do after high school in track? What college did you attend?
A: Track and Field afforded me a full scholarship to Louisiana State University. While at LSU, I was a letterman and team captain. I contributed to 5 SEC Championships and 4 NCAA Championships. My success in track and field allowed me to be a graduate track and field assistant coach for the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. I continued in track and field when I returned back to Rahway to be a Special Education teacher. During this time, I also was an assistant track and field coach at Seton Hall University.
Q: What have you been doing since high school/college?
A: I was an Assistant Track and Field Coach at Seton Hall University while teaching in Rahway for five years. I moved to Arizona and continued to teach special needs students for eight years. I then moved to Texas and have been an Assistant Principal in a high school up to this point.
Q: Are you married? Do you have any children? Names and ages?
A: I am married, my husband’s name is Darryl and he is the head track and field coach at TCU. We have two children. Isiah is fifteen and Jasmine is eleven.
Q: What advice would you give to a Rahway High School track athlete and those just starting out in the sport?
A: Listen to your coach and learn to manage your academic life with your athletic life. I would tell them to keep their ego in check because there is always someone out there who is better than they are and that they have to work hard to stay ahead. I would tell them to watch videos on the sport and take care of their bodies when they are injured. I would also tell them that if they are lucky enough to get a scholarship that they should understand that they are at that university to score points while getting an education. What they get from that university far outweighs what that university is getting from them. They get a degree which they keep for life, while the school only gets to utilize their skill for four years.
Q: The RHS track team's motto for the last few years has been "Tradition Never Graduates". As a Rahway track alumnus, what does that mean to you?
A: Each graduating class lays the foundation for the next class. We are all connected to the tradition of excellence. We carry that tradition to our future endeavors. The coaching staff will continue to strive to produce quality student athletes.
A: It all started with the playground Olympics that were run by the parks and rec program of Rahway. It gave me a chance to do something in the summer time. When I ran, I felt free, we went to other parks to compete. It gave me a chance to leave my own neighborhood and meet other kids. The program had structure.
Q: How has being involved with the sport changed your life?
A: Track and Field allowed me to travel to different countries and experience various cultures. Track and Field also instilled in me a strong sense of discipline and allowed me to improve upon my leadership abilities. These skills are imperative in the working world, they help you become functioning contributing citizens.
Q: What was your breakthrough race or performance?
A: During my eleventh grade year, I won the USA National Jr Olympics in the long jump. We traveled to Canada to compete against other sixteen year olds from different countries. I placed third. That inspired me to continue with athletics.
Q: What is the greatest moment of your career and why?
A: Winning the USA National Championship in 1989 and representing the USA in the World Cup. It was the culmination of all my hard work in college.
Q: What are some of your accomplishments in track (besides the four school records you still hold)?
A: While running for Rahway High School, I was on two World Jr Teams one in eleventh grade and the other my senior year in which I competed overseas for the USA. I qualified for the Olympic Trials as a high school athlete and placed sixteenth overall. I am proud to have a full page picture in one of my USA uniforms in my school yearbook. I am also very happy that through my athletic accomplishments, I was able to give Rahway a lot of publicity in the newspapers.
Q: What did you do after high school in track? What college did you attend?
A: Track and Field afforded me a full scholarship to Louisiana State University. While at LSU, I was a letterman and team captain. I contributed to 5 SEC Championships and 4 NCAA Championships. My success in track and field allowed me to be a graduate track and field assistant coach for the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. I continued in track and field when I returned back to Rahway to be a Special Education teacher. During this time, I also was an assistant track and field coach at Seton Hall University.
Q: What have you been doing since high school/college?
A: I was an Assistant Track and Field Coach at Seton Hall University while teaching in Rahway for five years. I moved to Arizona and continued to teach special needs students for eight years. I then moved to Texas and have been an Assistant Principal in a high school up to this point.
Q: Are you married? Do you have any children? Names and ages?
A: I am married, my husband’s name is Darryl and he is the head track and field coach at TCU. We have two children. Isiah is fifteen and Jasmine is eleven.
Q: What advice would you give to a Rahway High School track athlete and those just starting out in the sport?
A: Listen to your coach and learn to manage your academic life with your athletic life. I would tell them to keep their ego in check because there is always someone out there who is better than they are and that they have to work hard to stay ahead. I would tell them to watch videos on the sport and take care of their bodies when they are injured. I would also tell them that if they are lucky enough to get a scholarship that they should understand that they are at that university to score points while getting an education. What they get from that university far outweighs what that university is getting from them. They get a degree which they keep for life, while the school only gets to utilize their skill for four years.
Q: The RHS track team's motto for the last few years has been "Tradition Never Graduates". As a Rahway track alumnus, what does that mean to you?
A: Each graduating class lays the foundation for the next class. We are all connected to the tradition of excellence. We carry that tradition to our future endeavors. The coaching staff will continue to strive to produce quality student athletes.