2008 Woodie Awards
Track athlete leaves her mark in campus record books
By: Sergio Guerra
Issue date: 5/26/05 Section: Sports
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Knowing that she was the best athlete in the triple jump wasn't enough, so Star Thurman had to show all of her doubters and competitors once and for all that she was the best.
Thurman did exactly that two weekends ago at Sacramento during that state finals. Thurman captured first in the triple jump with a leap of 38 feet, 6 3/4 inches, it was the first time that a Warrior finished first in the triple jump since Michelle Allen did it in 1992.
"It is a really nice feeling to know that all the hard work has finally paid off," Thurman said. "I was unaware that I was capable of this."
Before attending EC, Thurman attended and competed at Paramount High School.
Her high school years didn't go by in vain, as Thurman became a star athlete by the time she was a senior in high school.
Thurman broke a record in the following events during her senior year in high school: the triple jump, 100-meters, and the 400-meters.
"It is a very nice feeling to know that my name will be on the record book in my high school," Thurman said. "I have to say that my senior year was the biggest highlight in my high school years."
After Thurman graduated from high school, she was undecided on whether or not she should attend college. Also if she was going to attend college, she didn't know where to enroll.
One afternoon, Thurman received a surprising visit from her current coach Kevin Hughley.
After talking for a couple of hours, Hughley convinced Thurman to attend EC and join the track and field team.
"She did a tremendous job developing from last year," coach Dean Lofgren said. "We predicted early during the season that she was capable of doing big things."
Thurman's first year as part of the track team was not as good as she thought it was going to be.
She had even convinced herself that quitting was the best solution.
"At one point, I was convinced I was going to quit track because of all the responsibilities I had ," Thurman said. "All the hard work I was doing in practice was not showing during all of the events I competed in."
Thurman did exactly that two weekends ago at Sacramento during that state finals. Thurman captured first in the triple jump with a leap of 38 feet, 6 3/4 inches, it was the first time that a Warrior finished first in the triple jump since Michelle Allen did it in 1992.
"It is a really nice feeling to know that all the hard work has finally paid off," Thurman said. "I was unaware that I was capable of this."
Before attending EC, Thurman attended and competed at Paramount High School.
Her high school years didn't go by in vain, as Thurman became a star athlete by the time she was a senior in high school.
Thurman broke a record in the following events during her senior year in high school: the triple jump, 100-meters, and the 400-meters.
"It is a very nice feeling to know that my name will be on the record book in my high school," Thurman said. "I have to say that my senior year was the biggest highlight in my high school years."
After Thurman graduated from high school, she was undecided on whether or not she should attend college. Also if she was going to attend college, she didn't know where to enroll.
One afternoon, Thurman received a surprising visit from her current coach Kevin Hughley.
After talking for a couple of hours, Hughley convinced Thurman to attend EC and join the track and field team.
"She did a tremendous job developing from last year," coach Dean Lofgren said. "We predicted early during the season that she was capable of doing big things."
Thurman's first year as part of the track team was not as good as she thought it was going to be.
She had even convinced herself that quitting was the best solution.
"At one point, I was convinced I was going to quit track because of all the responsibilities I had ," Thurman said. "All the hard work I was doing in practice was not showing during all of the events I competed in."