ANOTHER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST VISTS ST. BENEDICT'S
Kenyan champion offers advice to track team
January 2008
It is rare for a school to see two Olympic gold medalists, let alone in the same school year.
But that's exactly what's transpired over the last few months here at St. Benedict's.
St. Benedict's had the wonderful opportunity to have alumnus Cullen Jones '02 speak to the school back in October. Jones won the gold medal with Michael Phelps in the 4x100m this past summer in the Beijing Olympics.
On Friday, Jan. 9, The Gray Bees' winter track team had the privilege of hosting gold medalist Peter Rono. Rono is a former Kenyan athlete, who won the 1,500 meters at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Rono managed to beat closely the main favorites, Peter Elliott and Steve Cram of Great Britain, thus becoming the youngest Olympic Champion in the 1500 when he was only 21 years old.
While speaking with the track team, Rono talked of getting his inspiration from other runners. He would ask them, "What does it take to get to the top?" He soon realized that hard work was needed and he had the will needed to reach his goal.
"It's a good thing to be in the Olympics. It's even better to win," said Rono.
Rono also looks back at his catholic school education and appreciates it. He still has fresh memories of high school where they taught him discipline, hard work, and competition. He received many scholarships to a lot of Universities in the U.S. that he had never been to before.
He chose to continue his education at Mount St. Mary's in Maryland where he continued his catholic education. It was at this school where he met a wonderful coach and great teammates that all helped him grow as a runner. Rono was a sophomore in college when he won the gold medal.
He is now a spokesman encouraging kids to combine sports and education. To this day he has assisted over 300 kids, through his program, to the United States where they now go to school.
"There has to be something to give back," Rono said. "It is like a relay. When you pass the baton you are passing the inspiration."
Rono also spoke to the athletes about respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, attitude, and discipline. "In order to become a better athlete and get to the top you need to do the right thing. Set a good example for others and excel wherever you want to go."
He told the kids that God has helped him achieve all of his goals. "Believing in God has helped me be #1 in the world. You can do it! And it can start today by telling yourself 'I want to be #1.'"
It was a great opportunity for the St. Benedict's Track Team to hear the stories of a great Olympian. As he passed his gold medal around you could hear the athletes discussing their Olympic dreams. Rono spoke to these athletes knowing they could achieve what he did as long as they work hard and have the dedication to go all the way.
As he looked around the room, he said that you need to "leave this place better than you found it. Leave a good name behind you because many will benefit from it."
That could not have fit more perfectly with the ideals of St. Benedict's. The track team learned a great deal from Peter Rono and hopefully they can take what he taught them and have a great season!
--By Ed Thornton
Senior Martin Otieno helped St. Benedict's Track & Field team reclaim the New Jersey Prep Championship in February and headed the list of Gray Bees athletes who graced The Star-Ledger's All-Prep Team.
Otieno, a senior, won the 55-meter dash in 6.59 and the 200 in 22.53, was fifth in the 400 in 53.09 and then helped clinch the title for St. Benedict's with a 52.0 anchor leg on the third-place 4x400-meter relay as St. Benedict's Prep held off 2009 champion Lawrenceville, 86-821/2. The Gray Bees reclaimed the title it last won two years ago.
"It's an amazing feeling," said Rhodes. "I've been trying for 50 (feet) all year and to do it on a day when everyone else came through is just a great feeling."
Coach Jeff Austin's fencing team received third-place individual efforts from Rodrigo Bergamasco (pictured with his coach) in Epee and Idris Mitchell in Sabre. Foilist Nick Walker also contributed in a big way towards the second-place showing by going 6-1 in the C-strip.
The Gray Bees Indoor Track & Field team scored a huge upset by winning the Essex County Relays on Sunday at Seton Hall University.
After a six week delay, the Essex County Relays, postponed due to snow in January, finally went off without a hitch last Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Jersey City Armory.
St. Benedict's also had a strong showing from its athletes throwing the shot put. Nigel Whyte and Ryan Rhodes came in second as a relay team with a total distance of 86-2. Ryan Rhodes had a personal best of 43-8, while Whyte had a heave of 42-9.