2008 Woodie Awards
Young but saavy, men move forward
Profile Young looks for more in future meets
By: Wendalyn Lazarte
Issue date: 3/18/04 Section: Sports
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Somewhere in Oklahoma 19 years ago, a great Warrior was born. His destiny: to break a 30-year-old track and field record at EC and move on to greater things. This warrior's name, Harold Young.
Born into a family of seven, Young who is a middle child, has always played sports just like his siblings. Young played tight-end in football and center in basketball, though has found his niche in track and field.
Young was encouraged to throw shot put in high school. However, his impressions of the sport have changed since he first threw that 16-pound ball.
"So I came out there, threw it and didn't like it what so ever," he said. "I threw it wrong; my arm was killing me, I didn't like it."
Through perseverance and the fact that he had nothing else to do, Young decided to stick around and keep practice throwing.
"And then I got better," he said. "So I started liking it and loving it."
Since someone first being introduced to the shot put and discus, his odyssey from Oklahoma to California begun. Young, who lives with his father, his parents got divorced when he was 7, said that he first tried Harbor College, but after learning they don't have a track and field team, he tried out for EC.
Young broke a 30-year-old record in high school before he leaving for California, where he also set a new record after 30 years.
"At first, when I did it in high school, it felt real good," he said. "Everybody made such a big deal about it, and then I came out here and they did the same thing."
Young said that it made him feel real good. He also was taken by surprise by all the attention he received
. "The newspapers came and everything," he said. "And I was like, wow. So I felt really on top."
Young said that he isn't satisfied with his record-breaking performance. He says he hopes to set a mark that won't be broken for more than 30 years.
A warrior is not a warrior without someone pushing him to be his or her to be their best. For Young, the person who inspires him to be the best is his father.
Born into a family of seven, Young who is a middle child, has always played sports just like his siblings. Young played tight-end in football and center in basketball, though has found his niche in track and field.
Young was encouraged to throw shot put in high school. However, his impressions of the sport have changed since he first threw that 16-pound ball.
"So I came out there, threw it and didn't like it what so ever," he said. "I threw it wrong; my arm was killing me, I didn't like it."
Through perseverance and the fact that he had nothing else to do, Young decided to stick around and keep practice throwing.
"And then I got better," he said. "So I started liking it and loving it."
Since someone first being introduced to the shot put and discus, his odyssey from Oklahoma to California begun. Young, who lives with his father, his parents got divorced when he was 7, said that he first tried Harbor College, but after learning they don't have a track and field team, he tried out for EC.
Young broke a 30-year-old record in high school before he leaving for California, where he also set a new record after 30 years.
"At first, when I did it in high school, it felt real good," he said. "Everybody made such a big deal about it, and then I came out here and they did the same thing."
Young said that it made him feel real good. He also was taken by surprise by all the attention he received
. "The newspapers came and everything," he said. "And I was like, wow. So I felt really on top."
Young said that he isn't satisfied with his record-breaking performance. He says he hopes to set a mark that won't be broken for more than 30 years.
A warrior is not a warrior without someone pushing him to be his or her to be their best. For Young, the person who inspires him to be the best is his father.