WilfredAsamoah breathes heavily as he darts up and down the soccer pitch, covering some five miles during the course of a match. It is ideal training for preparing him to break records in another sport — hurdling.
About to enter his senior year at Edison High School, Asamoah has emerged as one of the more promising hurdlers in the state and is aiming to finish among the elite before his high school career concludes a year from now. His track coach, Veronica Harris, believes her talented runner is spot on toward doing all he can to achieve that goal.
“Actually, playing soccer is an excellent way to develop more stamina and endurance, both essential elements for hurdlers,” said Harris, herself a former All-American sprinter at Seton Hall. “William’s best attribute is speed, especially out of the blocks. In my opinion, that’s where races are won or lost.”
Asamoah started to become noticed when he became an important fixture of Edison’s nationally-ranked shuttle hurdles relay team. Along with Jeff Liwag, Andrew Edwards and Alex Izegbu, Asamoah and his teams established school recordsintheshuttlehurdles,4×200-meterand3x400- meter relays.
As an individual competitor, Asamoah’s most coveted accomplishments were winning the 110- meter hurdles Greater Middlesex Conference title with a 14.92 clocking and finishing third in the North Jersey Section II Group IV championships in 14.89. His 55.54 was good enough for fifth place in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the sectionals. The other achievement that Asamoah covets is being part of an Eagle spring track team that finished 8-0 in dual meets and captured both the White Division regular season and championship meet crowns.
“Participating in track has taught me that no matter how big or small you are,” says Asamoah, “you can accomplish anything as long as you remain determined and are willing to put in hard work.”
Asamoah’s first venture into track happened when he was a middle school student when he played—what else—soccer.
“My coach recommended I start running track because he noticed my speed on the soccer field,” he said. “I’ve learned to enjoy both sports but I know my future in college is running track.”
Anumber of schools agree, among them Bucknell and the U.S. NavalAcademy. Harris expects he will be receiving interest from other schools as the summer progresses. His dream school, he says, is Louisiana State, which has one of the top collegiate programs in the country.
“As difficult as it may sound,” says Asamoah, “I try to balance the effort I put into track and schoolwork. I wouldn’t describe myself as the smartest one in the class but I will always try to reach my full potential as a student.”
“When it comes to describing Wilfred,” says Harris, “the word I think of most is character. I’m a taskmaster and make sure the athletes on the team get the opportunity to reach their full potential. Sometimes, I have to give Wilfred a little ‘push’ because he’s so gifted. He would literally run through a wall if that’s what I asked.”
WhenAsamoah is asked about the people who have most influenced him in his pursuit of excellence both on the track and in the classroom, he immediately brings up Harris and the names of others who have coached him at Edison, including Brian Murtagh, soccer, and Mark Digiovacchino, winter track.
“All my coaches have had a great impact in helping me,” he says. “They recognize I have potential to be among the best in the state and have encouraged me to do whatever is necessary to improve. Without them, I know I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.”
And that’s the opportunity to become one of the best hurdlers in the state next year.