6 The Compass May, 2000
Sports
New Track Coach Looking
Ahead to the Future
By Jemayne King
Even though Elizabeth City
State University's 1999-2000
track session is just months
away, the idea of seeing run
ners in Viking uniforms sel
dom crosses the mind of
many of the University's
students.
Why? Because a track meet
is not considered a social
event. There aren't any
stands full of college stud
ents wearing new clothes
and sneakers. There isn't
even a sacred section
reserved for Greeks who
seem to come out in droves
to support ECSU basketball.
Unlike the members of the
basketball or football team,
it's not as easy to pick out
track team members in a
crowded classroorft or cafe.
Ycm may not even know
who's on the team unless
one of your close friends
happens to run, or you
noticed that girl with spikes
last semester. It's kind of
hard to receive respect and
support for competing in a
sport that the rest of your
classmates don't know
exists.
With a stroke of coaching
genius and luck, however,
coach Tim Orr plans to
make the mighty Viking
runners easily recognizable
on campus this year.
Coach Orr has been at
ECSU since 1995 when he
was lured away from
Atlanta's Morehouse
College.
"I initially started coaching
in 1991 because I love help
ing kids," Orr said.
Coach Orr came to ECSU
after hearing about a job
opening from a friend,
Ernest Wilson, who works
at the university.
"I was coaching down at
Morehouse when a good
friend of mine, Ernest
Wilson, told me about a job
opening here at ECSU. I
took the position because it
was an excellent opportuni
ty for Ernest and I to work
together.
Orr says that one of the dif
ficulties he has faced is
recruiting athletes in to the
track program because it is
classified by the university
as a non-scholarship sport.
"1 try to work with athletes
from other sports," Orr said.
In only his second year as
the Head Track Coach, Orr
realizes that the team is in
the beginning stages of a
rebuilding process. "The
first step in the rebuilding
process is to acquire
numbers." Orr said. "A
good portion of the pre sea
son is dedicated to getting
bodies to participate."
This year's squad however;
will not be flogged by new
comers. There are many
returning members such as
Arnold Jones and Crystal
Cooper. "Arnold will hold
the 100 meters, the 200 met
ers and the 4x2 relays." said
Orr. "Crystal Cooper, an
athlete with good potential,
will compete in the field
events."
Baseball Another of the
ECSU’s CIAA Sports
1
I
Two of the team’s players pose for the camera.
Photos courtesy Derek Lyons