Immaculate Track Star Leaves Indelible Mark

When it comes to the world of athletics, most five-star athletes have been honing their crafts since they were barely able to walk.  

But for former Montclair Immaculate star Dominique Booker, it only took her three and a half years to dominate the track and field scene. Booker, who's headed to the University of Central Florida in the fall on a full scholarship, left an indelible mark on not only the record books but the entire program.       

"It was an amazing feeling," said Booker's former coach Haneefah Norman of the impact her star had. "You don't come across athletes this special in your career. Maybe once or twice but hardly ever. But to have an athlete like that come to me has been an amazing ride."    

Norman wasn't just effusing praise because of Booker's physical talents but also because of the person she is.      
  
"She's also very humble and unselfish," Norman said. "She really cares for her team. Sometimes you have stars who don't want to do more but if I asked her to run the 800 meters, she'd run it for the points and the good of the team."   

The coach also pointed out that Booker enjoyed a strong foundation at home and within her church, and was a model student at Immaculate. Booker's parents, Stefani and Martin, were not only great collegiate athletes–which explains the natural ability–but Dominique had such strong faith that it served her well on the track.       

A member of the National Honor Society, a youth minister at Good News Sounds of Pentecost in Newark, a former class president, a member of the United People of Color Dance Troupe, and a member of the choir, Booker was the epitome of what a well-rounded student-athlete should be.      

Such a balance of natural ability and hard work is what set her apart, according to Norman.     

"It's a mixture of both, really," said Norman when asked if Booker's achievements were a product of physical prowess or being an overachiever. "She's obviously gifted but she's a hard worker, too. She only missed practice like five times–and that was only because of school-related issues. And she was outstanding in the classroom."    

Norman should know what it takes to be such a dual-threat because Norman was Booker just a decade ago. Norman, who's now in her fifth year of coaching, was a standout track star herself. She was a former All-State runner at Elizabeth High School, which she parlayed into a full ride to West Virginia and later Rutgers. It was such credentials that eventually made Booker put all her faith into the only coach she's ever known.  

But, according to Booker, there was some trepidation initially.             

"She had a lot to do with [my success]," said Booker. "She was my first real coach. My freshman year I didn't think I'd get along with her, though, because I wasn't feeling the vibe. But she took me aside the summer after and said 'You have talent and I want to make you the athlete you can be.' After that I was like 'whatever she says'."          

The bond they've forged has been so tight that Booker said it's almost like they're family.    

"She's gone over and beyond for me," she said. "She's close with my mom, too. Coach has gone to awards and banquets with me when she didn't have to. She helped me with the recruiting process… Coach Norman has become a big sister to me."       

What "big sister" did for her prized pupil was help turn around a once downtrodden program. During the Booker Era, Immaculate set 12 school records and four meet records. And at the Non-Public State Meet earlier this month, Booker set meet records in the 100 meters [11.87] and 200 meters [24.40]. Her stellar senior campaign helped earn her way into the Nationals, at UNC-A&T, June 18th, where she had a solid showing.     

"It was awesome to just place," said Booker of her eighth-overall Nationals experience. "I ran 11.79 in the 100 [meters] and just missed the finals by one place but it was a great experience."         

Booker's meteoric rise to national acclaim in such a short span wasn't lost on Norman.     

"She's only been running for three-and-a-half years, which is remarkable," said Norman. "I first had her during the spring of her freshman year and she picked it up so quickly. But she has the most competitive heart I've coached and you can't just teach that."     

That heart has now led Booker to UCF-a place she pretty much knew she was headed to by the end of her sophomore year.    

"I always loved Florida; it's my favorite state," she beamed. "My first major meet was in Florida. And ever since I went there, I said this is where I want to run. I knew it'd be somewhere in Florida."     

Besides the warm weather, she aid that the UCF coaching staff provided a familiar home feeling for her.    

"Some [Florida schools] were hesitant but UCF impressed me right away," added Booker. "Coach Caryl [Smith-Gilbert] had been watching me since freshman year, so she deserved to at least be talked to. And the more I talked to her I realized she had the characteristics of my mom and coach [Norman]. She said she can get me to wherever I want to be… I was ready to declare early, back in December [of junior year]."         

UCF won't only be getting a track star with Olympic aspirations but someone who wants to use her future degree to get into the journalism field.    

"I love journalism. It's awesome," Booker gushed. "I want to be a photo journalist, too, and use my traveling experiences to do something special."       

Norman said no matter what Booker decides to do, she'll be a success. She said if Booker could help turn around a fledgling Immaculate program, anything is possible.       

"It'll be hard once Dominique leaves but when I first started here we barely had three, four girls try out," said Norman. "And about half of them didn't stick it out all the way. But thanks to the success we've had with Dominique leading the way–and her always encouraging freshmen to come out–we usually have 20 to 25 girls try out, with almost all staying."      

Booker giggled almost abashedly when reminded of the lean years at Immaculate but was proud she had a hand in the program's success.       

"I would always go to a freshman and say 'Come out to the team, you'll love it,'" she reminisced. "But I also told them that they had to be about it and if you're not, step out the door. We started to get more and more and within time I'd look around [at tryouts] and say wow.     

"We had to find a way to keep them, so we had to find ways to get those medals so they'd stick around," she continued. "Winning motivates and keeps them on the right path. My selling point would always be that Coach has shown if you apply yourself she can help you get into a great college."    

Judging by her story–and Immaculate's sudden rise–it's evident Booker can surely vouch for it all.