Ex-PHS sprinter leads Hun team
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
It seemed only a matter of time before Nixon Grant was heading up the Hun School track and field teams.
Grant competed in the sprints, high jump and javelin for Princeton High School before going on to an injury-shortened career as a sprinter at Rider University. Three years ago, he started helping the Raiders as an assistant coach while taking a staff job at Hun.
”I loved track so much, I wanted to help out,” Grant said. “If you’re a teacher or faculty, you have to help out with something. As a staff, you don’t have to but I offered to volunteer my time. Because of my background, figured I’d be some sort of use.”
With the departure of Peter Hammer, the head coaching spot opened up and Grant was a natural fit. He balances the new post around his job at database administrator and assistant to the director of annual giving at Hun.
”My office is very helpful in letting me go early to help out the track team,” said Grant, who also is a football assistant. He has been pleased with the early returns. Participation is way up for the Raiders and he expects the results to follow.
”Last year, we had maybe seven girls,” Grant said. “This year, we have about 14. We had about 14 or 15 boys last year. We have about 30 this year.”
Grant did all he could to get athletes to come out for track and field so they could field a deeper squad. He is pleased with the turnout in his first year.
”Track and field is not something people want to come out for naturally,” Grant said. “But if you’re excited, they’ll be excited. I got a lot of the football players to come out. This year, I have star athletes in every event. We’re well covered.”
Grant has made sure he doesn’t have to do all the coaching. In addition to recruiting an array of athletes from the general student body, he also asked for some help in coaching. It was his way of recognizing that if he grew the team he’d need help.
”Last year, it was maybe four of us,” he said. “There are seven of us. I did some recruiting there too. I have one assistant head coach because my job can make it tough to be there all the time.”
Stephen Fabian is the assistant head coach. Emily Khana takes a head role for the girls team. Steve Healy coaches the middle distance running events. Mario Flores does the distance kids. Joshua Lampf, an alum, helps with the javelin and other field events. Joy Ohayia is available for help in the sprints.
”It’s all covered,” Grant said. “It’s hard to coach 42 to 43 kids if you only have two or three coaches.”
The fuller squad and fuller staff has the Raiders ready to compete at a higher level. Hun started quickly by taking three first-place finishes, three second-places and four third-place finishes at the prep relays at Lawrenceville last Wednesday.
”Overall, we have a strong team,” Grant said. “The team is very proud of themselves, how they compete and how they’ve been training.”
Hun went on the road to take on Blair, Gill St. Bernards and Trinity on Wednesday.
”We did great,” Grant said. “When we left, we were ahead. We did very strong. It was very cold. We had a lot of PRs today. We got a lot of firsts, seconds and thirds. I’m looking for some wins (this season).”
Grant has seen his share of success as a competitor, and he has enjoyed past success as an assistant with Hun. One of his former athletes, Chikezie Ohayia, is now a freshman sprinter at Columbia University after being a state sprint champion.
”Chikezie, he was the star sprinter on the team,” Grant said. “He did the 100 and 200. This year, I have a girl going to Columbia. She’s breaking all kinds of records in the 400. Those are two athletes I’m proud to be a part of coaching.”
Nixon Grant hopes there are many more standouts to follow, and many more chances to coach and develop that sort of talent.
”I’m very passionate about the sport,” he said. “There are some upcoming kids that I have formed some good bonds with. I see myself being at Hun for a very long time. I enjoy working with kids and seeing them progress and going on to do great things. I still keep in touch with Chikezie. It’s wonderful to see them go on and do great things.”

