Olympian ready to run for OSU
Kendra QuarlesLantern sports writer
Big Ten track and field hasn’t been the same since Ohio State’s newest addition, Eswort Coombs, stepped, or rather ran on to the scene.Coombs, a recent transfer from New Jersey’s Essex Community College, is a native of Kingstown, St. Vincent, located in the West Indies, where he has been named Athlete of the Year for the past three years.His standing as the current World University Champion and as a two-time Olympian in the 400-meter run, made him a hot commodity on the college circuit with offers from such nationally ranked teams as LSU and Arkansas.”I could have went to Arkansas or LSU, but I didn’t want the pressure of having to win a NCAA title,” Coombs said. “Here, the coaching staff and team are good, they have created a comfortable atmosphere for me.”Coombs’ desire to forego the spotlight on one of the nationally ranked teams should not be mistaken for the ‘big fish in a little pond’ syndrome. One look at the itinerary of his clearly defined season is evidence that Coombs does not shy away from competition.”My goals for the season are to compete in the NCAA, the World Championship in Greece, and to defend my title at the World University Games in Italy, I run the smaller meets in between to stay in shape,” Coombs said.He has already achieved one of his goals for the season. At the Mt. Sac Invitational last weekend held in Walnut, California, he placed first in the first heat of the 400-meter dash and met the 1997 Men’s NCAA qualifying standards, with a time of 45.19 seconds, securing his spot for the NCAA competition.While Coombs speaks highly of both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, he says it is too early to commit to running in the 2000 Olympics. “The Olympics this summer was a good experience, I had sustained an injury and I’m happy I ran as well as I did,” he said.Coombs was a semi-finalist in the 400.He is content to take it season-by-season and concentrate on his role on the team.”I see myself as a leader, I’m the oldest member on the team and have the most experience. I sometimes help by making suggestions to my teammates,” he said.”I have a lot of respect for Coombs,” said teammate Marlon De Leon. “He has experience at the ultimate level of competition.”Coombs, a junior majoring in telecommunications, credits his career in track to a lack of choice.”In high school there were only two sports, track and soccer. I played soccer as well, but I was best in track,” he said.He is fully adjusted to life in the United States.”The biggest difference between here and home is the weather,” Coombs said. “There is also a difference in the way people approach things. It’s not better or worse, just different.” With yet another year of college to go, he has not made any definite plans about his future.”After I get my degree, I may stay in the States and train. It really all depends on how well I’m running at the time,” he said.
