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http://www.thecharlottepost.com 1C CJiarlottc ^osit SPORTS THURSDAY MARCH 4, 2004 Black College Sports/4C Embracing time and distance JCSU grad one of top over-50 runners in U.S. By James Hamlin FOR THE CHARLOITE POST After 37 years, Jerry Clark is still running. The 51-year-old Charlotte native has been one of the best distance runners in the state since he first laced on track shoes at Erwin Jimior High. “The first time I ran the mile on the track I ran a 5:23 (mile),” he says. Before that Clark was struggling to find a race that fit him, but after putting up that fast time and winning his first 1- mile race he knew he dis- PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON would become a tance runner. * Clark hasn’t stopped. Right now he is ranked number third in the nation in his age group by Running Times magazine. Just last month at the Run for Peace Marathon in Charlotte Clark fin ished third overall with’ a time of 34 minutes, 27 seconds. That time broke his own record by 3 seconds, not to men tion the North Carolina record for his age group. “When I turned 50 my goal was to break the state record in every race I competed in,” Clark said. “And that happened.” Clark owns North Carolina records in the 5K, 8K, and lOK in the 50-54 age group. The only records he doesn’t have are in the marathon and half marathon. Clark’s success didn’t come exclusively in his later years. He ran cross-country at Second Ward and the newly-desegregated Harding High in 1969-70. Back then Clark was one of the few black distance runners in Mecklenburg County, but he more than held his own. “Most of the distance runnei s were white and I sort of jumped right in the midst of it,” said Clark, an assistant principal at Long Creek Elementary. It didn’t take him long to convince his coaches of his talent. “By the time I (made it to) the 11th grade, I was able to compete against a lot of the top runners in the city from Myers Park High School and Independence High School,” he said. Clark went on to dominate in college running. He went to Winston-Salem State for a semester where he won the CIAA championship in the 3200 his fi'eshman year. After that he transferred Johnson C. Smith and won three more conference championships and picked up an NAIA District 26 title to boot. Clark has his eyes set on beating two runners ranked ahead of him nationally. Clark will com pete against them in a race this month at "Virginia Beach, Va. After that his next goal is to break all of Charlie Rose’s records. “He has all the records from (age) 55 on up,” Clark said. “So my challenge over the next five to 10 years is to break all of his records.” Jerry Clark, an assis tant principal at Long Creek Elementary School, holds three N.C. records for run ners over age 50. they’ll be back Steve Smith development from special teams standout to top-line receiver was rewarded by Carolina Monday when the team signed him to a five-year contract extension. Panthers shore nucleus by re-signing Smith, Wallace THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Steve Smith agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Carolina Panthers on Monday after leading the NFC champions in receiving last season. Contract details were not disclosed, but Smith’s agent Derrick Fox said the deal includes a team option for a sixth season. The Panthers also re-signed backup defen sive end A1 Wallace to a five-year contract. The Panthers had made re-signing Smith a top priority after a 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. He could have become a restricted free agent. Smith wasn’t always a priority. He made the Pro Bowl as a return man as a rookie, but wouldn’t settle for being pigeon holed in that role simply because at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds he was considered too small to play receiver. After lobbying for a shot at as a starter, he got it in 2002. But he had his problems off the field. He beat up teammate Anthony Bright in a film session that season, leading to a one- game team suspension and a public outciy he shoidd be released. Instead, Smith volun teered for anger management classes and PHOTO/WADE NASH Smith (left) and defensive end Al Wallace both said remaining with the Panthers was their preference. spent time as a youth soccer coach, helping improve his image in the community. Last season, he proved his value on the field. Smith led the Panthers last season with 88 catches and 1,110 yards receiving, then had 19 receptions for 424 yards and three touch downs in the playoffs. That included a game winning 69-yard grab to defeat the St. Louis Please see PANTHERS/2C N.C. Central bids Spence adieu after 49-64 tenure FROM STAFF REPORTS Despite an appearance in the CIAA final, Phil Spence’s con tract with N.C. Central won’t be renewed. N.C. Central announced Monday that the contract of Head Men’s Basketball coach Phil Spence will not be renewed. “We appreciate the service and dedication that Phil has given to the men’s basketball program at NCCU during the past four seasons,” said NCCU Athletics Director William Hayes. “At this time, however, we feel we need to head in a new direction.” During Spence’s four-seasons, the Eagles posted an overall record of 49-64 (.434). This year’s team finished 16-13 after advancing to the CIAA champi onship game. The process to find Spence’s replacement will begin immedi ately, starting with the forma tion of a search committee. Home still not so sweet for Cobras: Carolina 0-10 all-time at Coliseum Carolina Cobras defenders Otis Moore (left) and Sir Mawn Wilson bring down Orlando receiver James Bowden (N.C. A&T) during the Predators’ 59-43 win last week at the Charlotte Colsiseum. The Cobras fell to 0-10 all-time in Charlotte. The next home game is March 14 against Dallas. PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON ©•o C. Jemal Horton 10 things I love about sports • All right, there were a few of you who were put off by last week’s column on the 10 things I hate about the sports world right now In an attempt to make up for it, here are 10 things I LOVE about the sports world: (10) I love that the Panthers didn’t let receiver Steve Smith hit the free- agent market. He’s their best player, and his re-signing shows the team is serious about trying to make anoth er Super Bowl run in their near future. The team has other needs, but re-inking Smith was the biggest. (9) I love that the zone defense died and went away from the NBA. For a while, there seemed to be a push to inundate the league with set-shooters - can you say Bryce Drew? — who offered nothing in the way of the style of play that made the NBA popular. Look, you wanna see zones and set shots you can get at the local Y? Watch the col lege kids. You wanna see the best athletes in the world go head-to-head and make fans scream in wonderment? Keep the NBA the way it is. (8) I love that the three players who transferred from Baylor after last year’s ugly scandal, including the murder of a teammate, have prospered. Lawrence Roberts (Mississippi State), John Lucas III (Oklahoma State) and Kenny Taylor (Texas) are playing vital roles for their new teams. They have a combined record of 67-10. At Baylor, they never had a winning season. (7) I love that they finally built a statue of Magic Johnson in Los Angeles. The man gave the Lakers - and the NBA - a new face when he entered the league in 1979. He’s given his heart and soul to the franchise. If Michael Jordan had a stat ue, Magic definitely needed a statue. (6) I love that baseball is getting tougher on steroid users. Baseball would be nothing without its statis tics. And if the statistics have been attained because of steroids, the game becomes a farce. Now, if baseball could just do something about that stu pid designated hitter... (5) I love George Steinbrenner. And I hate the Yankees. Thing is, Steinbrenner represents ever3d:hing a sports owner should be. The recent acqui sition of Alex Rodriguez is the latest example. Steinbrenner spends the money to make his team bet ter, which ultimately makes fans happy. Steinbrenner plays within the rules. He puts the best product on the field. Now, tell me: How happy would Charlotte Hornets fans have been if former owner George Shinn shared that philosophy? (4) I love that it’s getting closer to time for the Charlotte Bobcats to start assembling their team. No, the expansion draft isn’t Please see TEN/2C
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