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Chandra Cheeseborough at Tennessee State
April 24, 2002
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Cheesborough with Coach Ed Temple
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As Tennessee State University's track coach, "Coach Cheese" as the TSU family knows her, is proving that you can teach others to become champions. The former Tigerbelle and Olympic gold medalist, was selected as the 2002 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Coach of the Year after leading the Tigerbelles to their first-ever OVC Indoor Championship. Cheeseborough received the 2001 OVC Outdoor Coach of the Year honor as the Tigerbelles claimed the outdoor championship last spring.
Cheeseborough, a Jacksonville, Fla. native, ran for the TSU Track Club as a high school junior and senior for legendary track coach Edward S. Temple. She helped set a junior meet record in the National AAU Junior women's track and field championship as a member of the 400-meter relay team in 1975. Later that year, she was a member of the 400-meter relay team that set a new record in the Senior Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in White Plains, New York.
At age 16, Cheeseborough won a gold medal in the 200-meter at the Pan-American Games in Mexico City in a record time of 22.77. She also won the Track Athletics Congress (TAC) 100-meter championship in record time. The next year, she placed second in the 200-meter and 100-meter at the Martin Luther King International Freedom Games in Atlanta. The young sprinter also won the 100-meter in the National AAU Track and Field Championship and helped win the 800-meter relay.
By placing second in the 100- and 200-meter at the USA Olympic Trials Cheeseborough became a member of the 1976 USA Olympic team. She placed sixth in the 100-meter in Montreal. In the 1984 Olympics Games, she ran on the gold medal-winning team in the 4x100 and the 4x400. She also ran away with a silver medal in the 400-meter.
Coach Cheeseborough is a member of the National Track and Field Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Tennessee State University Sports Hall of Fame and the Jacksonville (Florida) Sports Hall of Fame. She will be inducted into the Florida Black Sports Hall of Fame during the Memorial Day Weekend in May 2002.
A CONVERSATION WITH COACH CHESSEBOROUGH
Q: What are some of the accomplishment would you like for the Tigerbelles?
A: I would really like for them to accomplish their own personal goals. I think once you accomplish your own personal goals that will tie into the team's goals which is winning the conference and making it to the NCAA. That's the goal we're shooting for now as a team, to qualify athletes for NCAA competition.
Q: Do you see any of your athletes competing on the Olympic level?
A: Yes, I believe so. Not if they had to go today but in 2004 or 2008 I do have some athletes that are very talented and could go on to the next level.
Q: I understand this was the first year for pole-vaulting in the OVC.
A: We recruited Shemeka Hector as a long jumper out of Ocala, Florida. She asked if she could compete in the pole vault since it was new to our conference and I was surprised. She said she wanted to try it so we had a volunteer coach, Dr. William Merriman, who pole-vaulted in the past prepare her. She started practicing about two and half months prior to the meet and placed fifth.
Q: What do you feel you have brought to the team that brought them back to the forefront?
A: I think just bringing a level of respect and confidence back to the program and letting the girls know that they can do it. Just building up their confidence. I told them that we were OVC champions outdoors and let's keep this ball rolling-- we have the talent. It's an everyday thing because young people have so many obstacles. We have student-athletes with children and it's not easy going to school, running track and raising a child. Just to keep them encouraged and let them know you can do this.
Q: What is the difference between now and when you were running as a Tigerbelle?
A: The level of commitment and believing in yourself. When I ran as a Tigerbelle we had so much confidence. When we stepped on the track, everyone else was going to get second or third depending on how many Tigerbelles was in the race. I don't think that confidence level is there with these girls. You have to keep pumping it every week. Instead of having it as you go out there. Tigerbelles use to be a household name and we're trying to bring that back. When we step on the track they are going to know the Tigerbelles are here.
Q: Who were and are some of your biggest influences beside Coach Ed Temple?
A: My parents, Wilma (Rudolph). I had an opportunity to spend quality
time with her during her time of sickness and when she wasn't sick we
would always communicate no matter where we were. She was a big influence.
I have prayer partners on campus like Dr. Sandra Holt. My pastor and his
wife, they have a big influence on me. Also my best friend from North
Carolina, her name is Lasrencie McCray.
Q: What do you think it will take to repeat as OVC Outdoor Champions?
A: It's going to take commitment. Staying focus. Just showing up to compete. We know that we have depth. If we can stay injury free-that's a big key to going back to the outdoor. I know that everyone is looking at us and want to knock us down. If we stay focused and injury free we should take another outdoor championship.
Q: What is something that people don't know about you, that you wish they did?
A: When people first meet me, they perceive that I am mean. But once you get to know me, you realize I will give you anything, but that's how they perceive me but I'm a person that's willing to give and go the distance for anyone.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like to shop. (laugh) I like cooking crabs and inviting people over.
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