Wallkill Central School District

Wallkill Track and Field

Legends  

"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage"

-George Patton

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2017 Legend 

Richard Samuels

https://tinyurl.com/Richard-StateQual-Race-2017

What is a Legend?

Noun:

“ a famous or important person who is known for doing something extremely well”

Adjective:

“His speed and ferocity in attach were legend”

We here at Wallkill High School have had the opportunity to watch as a precocious, gangly, cocky 8th grader arrived in our program. From the start, we learned that every race that he ran, there was an air of confidence that he would run his fastest, and more likely than not, he did run his fastest on that day.

He was willing to try any event to score points and make the team better. To the average person with knowledge of track, looking at his times early on would not have been impressed. But we as coaches knew that there was something special that would ultimately happen,

That would happen beginning with the 2015 championship season as a sophomore when he lowered his time by 3 seconds in 3 weeks to a 2:00.19 finish at the State Qualifier. Then in 2016, as a Junior, he brought home 4 gold medals at the MHAL Championship meet as he individually won the 400, 800 and anchored our winning 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relays. He then ran the fastest split in school history at the Warwick Fast times meet with a blistering 1:54.22 time which allowed that team to secure the school 4 x 800 record. He lowered his individual 800 time to 1:57.32 at the State Qualifier. Little did anyone know at the time but this race was to be the motivating factor to his most successful 2017 season.

He began the 2017 season by qualifying for the Indoor state championships with the 3rd fastest 600 time in NYS. Although he did not medal at states, he came to the outdoor season with a laser focus to not be beat in any race that he ran. He was a triple gold medal winner in the 400, 800 and the anchor on the 4 x 400 relay. Then in a cold, rainy day in Middletown, he won the 800 and ran the fastest relay split 400 ever at Wallkill with a 48.6.

But the best was yet to come, as one week later, running against young men he had already defeated in head to head battles earlier in the season, he ran the current fastest time in NYS for 2017 with a new school record 1:53.85. This would bring his time differential from that beginning 8th grade season to his senior year to 20.35 seconds.

There have been many athletes to come through Wallkill and be very good runners in our program, but no one has done what Richard Samuels has achieved and for that we are forever grateful that he has been a part of the Panther Track and Field program and it is for his dedication, compassion, and leadership that we induct him as a true “WALLKILL LEGEND”

Eric's story:

Eric entered Wallkill his Freshman year determined to be on the team. He wanted to pole vault but his coach questioned whether his physical ability was enough to vault. Determined to prove that he was capable, Eric rose to challenge. He ran hard every practice and did every single one of his start, curl, press drills aiming for perfection. By the end of the season, Eric proved to a be a driving force on the team, clearing 9ft 6in. and earning the single point needed to clutch the 2005 boys MHAL team victory. From that point on Eric continued to shock and impress. By the end of his Junior year, Eric had cleared 14'6", becoming 3^rd in the state by setting a new school record and tying the outdoor MHAL record. During his senior indoor season Eric continued to improve. He broke his own PR by 6 inches and again took 3^rd. Eric's success at pole vault however, is not what makes Eric a legend here at Wallkill. What makes Eric a legend is his dedication and support for not only his team but the program as well. From the time he was a Freshman until the time he graduated, Eric was a leader. His quiet demeanor and positive encouragement led many athletes to discover their own hidden talents. His drive and dedication was inspirational to other athletes. Though injured during his senior year and unable to compete, Eric still attended every practice. He would sit on the trustee 5 gallon bucket and coach each young vaulter. Eric became their support and trusted friend. He celebrated with them in their successes and was always there to pick them up when their vault day was far from perfect. As a freshman Eric was the lone vaulter on the team. By the time he was a senior, Eric had encouraged well over 15 new vaulters, making Wallkill's vault program top ranked in the league, section and state. He introduced Wallkill to Coach Saint's and Coach Cauther's Flying Circus and became such a noted athlete with their program that the Flying Circus opened its doors to all of Wallkill's athletes. Eric entered Wallkill's program as a young boy with something to prove. This year he leaves Wallkill as a talented young man whose dedication, leadership and success make him a legend and face that will always be remembered.