Beijing Olympics

Eleven former ECC track standouts, representing four different nations, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Representing Jamaica: 

Korine Hinds (Class of 1998)
Andrea Bliss (Class of 2001)
Kenia Sinclair (Class of 2001),
Novlene Williams- Mills (Class of 2002)
Melaine Walker (Class of 2004)
Kerron Stewart (Class of 2005)

Grenada’s representatives included:

Alleyne Francique (Class of 2000)
Trish Bartholomew (Class of 2006)
Allison George (Class of 2007)

Francique competed four years ago and also carried the national flag of Grenada in the opening ceremonies in Athens.

Ayanna Hutchinson, a member of the 1997 Essex title, represented Trinidad & Tobago. Marian Burnett, a member of the Class of 2001, competed for Guyana.

Medal Winners at the Summer 2008 Beijing Olympics

Melaine Walker (Class of 2004), struck gold at the Olympics, winning the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica in the Olympic record time of 52.64 seconds.

Kerron Stewart (Class of 2005), won the silver medal in the 100-meter dash and the bronze medal in the 200-meter dash for Jamaica.

Novlene Williams-Mills, Class of 2002, won a bronze medal as a member of the Jamaican 4x400 meter relay team. Novlene’s first Olympic medal was also a bronze four years ago in Athens when she also ran on the 4x400 relay team

Olympic Athletes of ECC Honored at the College in Fall 2008

ECC’s Track Coach Michael Smart (middle) honored  by the County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo (right) and President Yamba

Track & Field Championships - March –July, 2008

(Ruddock at the far Left)

Record setting freshman Natasha Ruddock and Demetrius Pinder won individual titles in their specialty events at the National Junior College Athletic Association indoor track and field championship – March 2008.

Natasha Ruddock and the men’s 4x800 meter relay team captured first place titles at the annual National Junior College Athletic Association outdoor track and field championships – May 2008.

Natasha Ruddock, representing Jamaica, finished sixth in the 100-meter high hurdles at the 12th annual IAAF World Junior Championship in Poland.  The world championship was held July 8-13 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Women’s Track Team Won National Championship – March ‘07

 Basketball

The men’s basketball team captured the Region 19 title February 2008 to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association District 9 championship.

Men’s basketball star John Pringle, a 6 foot, 7 inch sophomore, had a double-double in the National Junior College Athletic Association Coaches’ Association all-star game April 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Soccer

Soccer Standout Earned National Honor

ECC soccer star Darnelle Blackman, a defensive stalwart, was named a first team All American by the National Junior College Athletic Association in the Fall of 2007. Blackman’s defensive skills helped the Wolverines post a 9-7-1 record and advance into the Region 19 playoffs.

Women’s Soccer Star Won National Honor

Women’s soccer forward Marie Gilles  led the Lady Wolverines to ECC’s first Region XIX championship in 2004. Giles was named to the 3rd team All American  squad by the National Junior College Athletic Association.