New look, same goal

Change, the buzzword of the day, is in the air for the track and field team in 2009 and Portland State fans are hoping that the change will boost a traditionally successful program towards an even bigger goal of a conference championship.

To begin with, the track and field team is sporting an essentially all-new coaching staff with four of the five coaches undergoing their first season at Portland State.

The departure of former head coach Kebba Tolbert, who left the Vikings to become an assistant coach at Universty of Texas at El Paso, opened the door for Ronnye Harrison who was appointed last September to interim head coach.

“I really haven’t thought about the word ‘interim’ as meaning very much to me,” Harrison said. “I just do the best I can each day to help my athletes succeed.”

But with over a decade of coaching experience at the high school level it is clear that Harrison brings more to the track and field program than just a great attitude.

A fixture in the Portland area track and field scene, Harrison spent time at Benson and Jefferson High Schools and has coached some elite level sprinters during his time. 

Additionally, he is the owner of an elite track and field club where he has helped Oregon prep standouts like Kayla Smith—who was a top level sprinter at the high school level—to elevate their performance to the next level.

Harrison has rounded out his staff with some new faces that also bring experience and energy to the program.
John Parks has more than 23 years of experience at the college and high school levels will be joined by Kevin Jeffers to help the distance runners. New jumping coach Angela Smith is highly spoken of by the track team and her fellow coaches.

Rounding out the coaching staff is lead assistant coach, Seth Henson who is the only returning member of last season’s staff and has been around the program since his days as a member of the team from 2002-07. Henson will work primarily with the throwers and multi-event athletes on the squad.

Typically with coaching changes, there is a period of adjustment for athletes, which can result in a bit of a performance dip.

On the contrary, this team seems to be building confidence with each day and midway through the indoor season, it looks like more athletes will qualify for the Big Sky Championship in Flagstaff, Ariz. than in recent years.

“I love it,” said Amira Karim, one of the coaches’ pupils. “These new coaches make the new athletes better, as well as the veteran athletes.”

Karim, a junior jumper and sprinter for the Vikings, is just one of several Portland State athletes experiencing some terrific results under the new coaching staff.

In one of their indoor meets on Jan. 24 in Albuquerque, N.M., Karim long-jumped a personal best of 18 feet, four inches, a jump that qualified her for the Big Sky Championships.

Jernise Saunders, the reigning Big Sky champion in the 60-meter dash, has also enjoyed the instruction she has received from Harrison and seems poised for continued success. In just her first meet this season, she qualified for the indoor championships, scheduled for Feb. 26 – 27.

“It’s really a different feel this year, the stress level is down,” the junior sprinter said. “I think I’m a better athlete because of it.”

In addition to the coaching changes and new energy the team has been bolstered by the addition of four newcomers who will look familiar to most Vikings fans.

Juniors Aaron Woods, Tracy Ford and Andrew Fuller and sophomore Deshawn Shead each suited up for Jerry Glanville’s football team last fall but were given the green light to participate with the track team. The group has brought increased speed and strength to the roster.

“They make our team considerably stronger,” Harrison said.