ON THE WEB

Booker T. Washington's triple threat gonna fly now

By Larry Rubama
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK - Marlon Woods expects a large contingent of family and friends to support him at the Group AAA state track and field meet this weekend at Todd Stadium in Newport News. Woods, a Booker T. Washington High School senior, is attempting to become the first Group AAA male athlete to win the long, triple and high jumps at a state outdoor meet. Only Calvin Talford of Castlewood, a Group A school, accomplished the feat in 1987 and 1988. Unfortunately, one of Woods' biggest fans won't be there.

His stepfather, Colos Ricks, will be home. A little more than a year ago, Ricks, then 42, suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Ricks had come home from work complaining of a stomach ache. Not thinking it was serious, he went to sleep. The next morning, Woods' mother, Marlo Ricks, found her husband flat on his back on the floor, only able to raise his right arm. "I could tell something was wrong because his speech was slurred," she said. "He hasn't said anything since." He was hospitalized for two months. Marlo Ricks was devastated, but she knew she had to be strong for their three children. "Of course, you go through the 'why me stage,' " she said. "But you have to get over it and keep moving on." While she learned to deal with her emotions, Woods struggled.  "He took it hard, and he couldn't get over it," she said. "I could see the change in him because he went from anger to having to prove something. We really thought he was going to head in the wrong direction." But Woods started focusing on track as his outlet. "It was tough, but I knew I had to grow up," he said. "I realized that I had to make the most of the situation. And seeing my dad gave me all the motivation in the world to succeed." Woods realized that instead of two incomes, the family would have to rely on his mother's as a nurse. He also has an older brother - Mario, a former All-Tidewater football player - in college at St. Paul's in Lawrenceville. "I knew I couldn't mess up; I knew I couldn't fail," he said. "I also knew I had to find a way to get some money for college somehow." Woods channeled his energy, frustrations and anger into track and school. "You could see the change because he started working harder," Bookers track coach Che' Jacobs said. Woods - an All-Eastern District football player - improved his triple jump by more than 3 feet, his long jump by nearly 2 feet and his high jump by nearly a foot. This past winter, Woods became the first Booker to win a state indoor title when he won the high jump with a personal-best 6-9. The following week, against the nation's best, he cleared 6-8 to win the Nike Indoor National meet in Landover, Md. "When Marlon won the nationals, I called home so they could tell Colos the news, and he just busted out crying because he was so happy for Marlon," said Marlo, who tapes all of Woods' meets to show her husband. "He might not be able to tell Marlon how proud he is, but you can tell by his smile. That's something that he can still do is smile. Marlon's success has been good for him." Woods' victory at nationals also caught the attention of many schools, including Tennessee and East Carolina. But Woods, wanting to stay close to home to help his mom, chose Norfolk State, the reigning MEAC indoor and outdoor track champion.

Woods also is hopeful that one day his stepfather will be well enough to see him compete. "I would love for him to see me jump," said Woods, who is trying to become just the second male Booker athlete to win a state outdoor title and the fourth in school history. "But I know he's proud of me because even though he can't say it, I can see it in the glow of his eyes."

Norfolk State Invitational notes: Lakeland's Copeland just misses clearing 7 feet

By Larry Rubama
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 19, 2008

NORFOLK

One of the highlights from Saturday’s Norfolk State Invitational was the performance of Lakeland senior Chris Copeland in the high jump.  | This past indoor season, Copeland was one of only four high school jumpers to clear the 7-foot barrier . At Norfolk State, he was hoping to become the 11th high school jumper to clear the same barrier outdoors. 

Copeland came up short, but it’s not because he didn’t try. He just missed on his first attempt, kicking the bar on his way down. His second attempt wasn’t close, but his final attempt was different . Copeland appeared to be over the bar, but one of his heels clipped it on the way day. 

For a moment, it looked as if the bar were going to stay up, but then it came down. 

“I thought I had it,” said Copeland, dejected. “I was just about to celebrate – and then I saw it fall .” 

Copeland’s effort did win over one fan. Marlon Woods, a former standout jumper at Booker T. Washington and a current star at Norfolk State, was one of the officials for the high jump.   “It was real exciting to come here and see him jump,” said Woods, who has cleared 7-21/2 this season. “I remember seeing him when I was in high school and he’s really grown up and improved so much.” 

Copeland remembers Woods well. 

“I still remember an article about him that explained how he got so good,” Copeland said. “I cut it out and put it on my wall. And it’s still on my wall. I guess you could say Marlon Woods is my idol.” 

Copeland will now focus on clearing the 7-foot barrier next week at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, where crowds of more than 40,000 fans are expected.   “I really wanted to clear 7 feet before going to Penn Relays next week,” he said. “But I guess the Lord has something waiting for me in Philadelphia.”

Star jumper making leap from Norfolk State to Florida State

Nothing against Norfolk State, Marlon Woods said, but the six-time MEAC high jump champion feels he's topped out there. So Woods, a Booker T. Washington graduate, is making another jump - transferring to Florida State. "I feel there wasn't a lot more for me to accomplish in the conference or at the school, other than to graduate," he said. Woods, who has a year of eligibility remaining, plans to graduate from Florida State, where he'll enroll in January and compete in the indoor and outdoor seasons. He's taking classes at NSU through this semester and should complete his degree in sociology next December, he said.

The move, he admits, is more about athletics. Woods was disappointed in his 2009 outdoor season. Though he was named Most Outstanding Performer at the MEAC championships, he failed to qualify for the NCAA championships in the high jump, clearing just 6-10-1/4 at the East Regional. He has jumped as high as 7-2-3/4, and qualified for the NCAAs as a sophomore. Woods also failed to qualify in the long jump, after earning All-American honors during the indoor season.