November 25, 2013
For many college athletes, the dream of one day participating in the Olympics is what motivates them through the lonely and often grueling hours of practice. The need to balance the requirements of a rigorous academic program with the demands of their sport is never easy, but for the members of the St. John’s University Track and Field program who ultimately performed on the world stage, the gain definitely outweighed the pain.
Four former Olympians of the St. John’s community were recognized for their achievements at the Track and Field Olympic Night cocktail reception on the Queens campus.
Those honored included:
Kenneth Bantum (Assistant Track Coach 1975-1997)
Wilkinson Egwu ’82CBA, ’85MBA
Sonja Fitts ’92SVC
Roman Linscheid ’95CBA
Bantum and Linscheid were unable to attend due to prior commitments.
The event reflected St. John’s long history of providing student-athletes with the training and encouragement they need to excel at the highest level of competition.
“We have such a long tradition of outstanding Track and Field here at St. John’s,” noted Jim Burt, Head Coach, Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field teams. “During the past 60 years we’ve had 11 students from our teams compete in 13 Olympic games, and that’s pretty impressive. To be able to honor some of those people who achieved that level of success is a great thing for us. There are many members of our current team here tonight, and hopefully they’ll be spurred on to their own achievements when they meet and listen to our former Olympians.”
The stories told by the honorees were both personal and inspirational.
A native of Nigeria, Egwu was already a seasoned champion when he arrived at St. John’s in 1978. He had already represented his country at several international championships in Algeria, Canada and Italy, and was eager to improve his skills even further by competing at the college level. He recalled that although the culture shock was significant, he immediately felt comfortable at St. John’s due to the outpouring of support from everyone at the University.
“When I came to St. John’s I was immediately accepted into a wonderful family, and I felt that I was a part of this great University from my first day on campus. I’ve never lost my love for St. John’s, which is why it’s such an incredible thing for me to be honored tonight. I went to the Olympics in Seoul, South Korea and that was something I’ll never forget, but I have to say that being recognized by St. John’s is just as special.”
Fitts also had a remarkable history as a student-athlete before heading to the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. During her years at St. John’s she won an incredible 12 BIG EAST Championship individual titles for shot put, weight throw and hammer throw.
She credits the discipline and structure she received at the University for allowing her to achieve success in the classroom and on the track.
“St. John’s gave me so many opportunities, both athletically and academically,” she noted. “It was an honor to be recruited by such a great university, and I’ve never forgotten what everyone here did for me when I was a student. Coming back tonight to be honored is absolutely humbling, and really fills me with nostalgia for those days when I was here. I’ve won many awards in the past, but this will always be at the top of the list.”
The event brought many alumni back to campus to share memories and reconnect with former teammates.
A member of St. John’s first women’s track and field team, Patricia Morley ’80C has never lost her appreciation for what the University did for her, both personally and professionally. She enjoyed her years on the track team, and credits the discipline that she learned as a student-athlete with allowing her to achieve career success after graduation.
“Being on the St. John’s track team helped me in so many ways,” she said. “It was fun, but it was also rigorous and kept me focused. I kept up my grades and became a member of The President’s Society, and went on to earn a doctorate in Psychology after graduation. The University and the Department of Athletics will always be a part of my life, and when I learned of this reception I decided I had to be here. I’m proud to have been a part of a program that produced so many Olympians.”