Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Naima Morris

Coaches in every sport yearn for leaders who are effective communicators, talented and have a strong work ethic. Not only does senior track member Naima Morris check off everything on the list, but what is most impressive is she manages to do it all with a smile on her face, high energy, and a genuine concern for her teammates and coaches. A three-year captain, Naima is hoping to put those skills to task and help lead her team back to an SPC conference championship after placing 2nd last season, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Naima’s path to running is similar to other athletes in that she played multiple sports when she was young. “My parents said I had too much energy and signed me up for soccer when I was little,” says Naima. She competed in gymnastics from 1st to 5th grade where she excelled in the vault, a precursor to her future success in the hurdles.

Junior High offered Naima an opportunity to not only get involved in track and field but also broaden her interests in other clubs and activities such as theater. That involvement would continue through high school where Naima has shown off her talents and leadership in several clubs and activities.

One of those clubs is the award-winning spoken word club, where Naima has an opportunity to express herself through both writing and reading her poems. Tim Ochoa, who leads the spoken word club, has witnessed Naima’s talent and passion for writing and performing, saying, “Naima has the ability to write and tell her stories so effectively.” He goes on to say, “Whether it is poetry, fiction, narratives, or something else, she has such a great sense of word choice and how to connect with her audience. She routinely volunteers to read her poems, and not being afraid of public speaking is a great trait to have.”

Naima’s talent and ability for communicating with others are why she had the distinction of being named a captain at the beginning of her sophomore year. Former head coach, Connor Downs, says, “Naima is great at verbal communication, very positive, she actively listens, is incredibly cerebral in her approach towards the sport.” He goes on to say, “I can remember her reaction to being named a captain, she jumped for joy during one of our workouts. She is a huge advocate of everyone’s mental well-being, not just physical. She is the first athlete I heard say out loud to others to make sure they are in a positive strong mindset, and if they were not, to come to speak with her. She even checks in on coaches to see how they are doing, and genuinely cares about the response.”

1st-year head coach, Steve Ideran, sees those same qualities and has high expectations for his now senior captain, saying, “Naima is an incredible leader and role model for our team, and the success we have had as a team since she was named captain her sophomore year is due in large part to the focus, attention to detail, and competitiveness that Naima brings to our team’s DNA.” He goes on to say, “only two other athletes have stepped up as captains as a sophomore, and Naima has continued to grow into a fantastic leader and teammate since.”

Not only has Naima brought leadership, stability, and a positive attitude to the track program, but she has also brought an immense amount of talent. Naima is 4th all-time in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.89, 4th all-time in the 300 hurdles with a time of 49.52, a member of the 7th fastest 4x100m relay, and has been named All-Conference 5 times (twice in the 100 hurdles, twice in the 300 hurdles, and once as a member of the 4x100 relay team).

Naima’s biggest goals for the season are qualifying for the state for the first time as an individual and leading her squad back to a team conference championship, one of her fondest memories as a member of the program. “I just remember Coach Downs sprinting down the bleachers, holding the plaque above his head, and how excited we all were,” says Naima.

The standard Naima has set for herself in the track program is the same one she sets for herself in the classroom. She continues to challenge herself with rigorous courses like AP Spanish Language and Culture and AP Statistics. Carrying a 4.3 G.P.A. and participation in numerous clubs and activities outside of the track team, Naima would like to attend the University of Illinois and major in computer science. “My mom works in computer science, and I’ve always watched her work and I like the idea of both working alone and I’ve always been interested in how things work,” says Naima.

The changes of the season mean the track team will transition from indoor to the outdoor season, and with one of the largest girl’s track programs in the area and state, the Wolves are hoping they can add additional individual and team hardware to the trophy case this season. As someone who has taken on a leadership role for the majority of her time as a student at Oswego East, her experience and advice are invaluable. She advises future Wolves by saying, “The people at OE are not looking for your downfall, and the staff here are really trying to see you succeed. Teachers, coaches, and especially my counselor have always been a supporter for me, there are a ton of resources here to help, and everyone is pulling for your success.” Naima’s leadership will continue playing a pivotal role in the track program’s success and what will undoubtedly be her own future personal success.