Full speed ahead

They often perform with less fanfare than the so-called "major sports," but track and field athletes put in as much — and sometimes even more work — on their game than most high school student athletes.

For the Mid-Valley area's top track and field performer, hard work and practice has certainly paid off.

"I like running, but I also like the competition and bettering myself," said recent Yuba City High graduate Olumide (oh-LOO'-muh-day) Coker, the fastest of all local prep sprinters this spring.

Standing at a solid 6-foot-2, Coker blew past the field during his senior year by winning the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.14 seconds (his personal best is 11 seconds) at the Tri-County Conference, earning him the illustrious "fastest TCC human" title.

But his time of 22.84 in the 200 was also the second fastest in the conference and when you add in his anchor legs on two successful relay teams, Coker's stats look that much more impressive.

"He's very talented. He was the league champion in the 100 and he could've been it in the 200," said longtime Honker track coach Mike Buzbee. "He also ran the relays and he can hurdle too. He even ran the 400 and impressed us with what he did there."

But as fast as he his, what makes Coker stand out is the fact that his path to stardom on the track started far from the heat of Northern California — and the United States for that matter.

Born in London, England, Coker and his family moved to Yuba City in May of 2005 when he was just 12 years old. Since the move to the states, Coker has not only been tearing up the track, but excelling in the classroom as well.

"I came here in the eighth grade and since they start you earlier in London, I had to take a test when I came here to see if I was up to it academically," said Coker, who was also a member of the Honkers' championship basketball teams as a sophomore and senior. "After the test they decided I was smart enough to stay where I was."

Coker passed a different kind of test last February when he became a U.S. citizen and his work in the classroom has never faltered. He graduated from Yuba City High this June at the age of 16, just two day shy of his 17th birthday.

"I remember when he was a freshman and he was like a baby colt — his legs looked to big for his body," Buzbee said. "But he's really developed a nice physique. He's a great kid and very well-mannered. He graduated when he was 16, so he's very mature too."

Although he competed in and won several big meets for the Honkers, a quadriceps injury derailed his chance of qualifying for the CIF state meet one year after a groin injury also ended his junior season prematurely.

"My goal was to make it further than I did last year, but unfortunately it didn't happen," he said. "I don't know why, but injuries always seemed to pop up at the wrong time."

Next year, Coker will attend Sacramento City College, which he felt was the best fit for him academically. He will also run track.

"His starts needed work, but he had good acceleration and he finishes strong," Buzbee said. "If he continues to work, he's going to make some college coach very happy. I wish him the best."