CLEARING LIFE'S HURDLES TRACK STAR HEADS FOR OLYMPICS.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer When Mark Crear Mark Crear (born November 2, 1968 in San Francisco, California) is a double Olympic medalist in the 110 m hurdles from the United States. In 1996 he was second behind Allen Johnson. Four years later he came in third, behind Anier Garcia and silver medalist Terrence Trammell. won a silver medal in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Olympic Games Olympic games, premier athletic meeting of ancient Greece, and, in modern times, series of international sports contests. The Olympics of Ancient Greece Although records cannot verify games earlier than 776 B.C. in Atlanta four years ago, he carried his 2-week-old daughter around the track for a victory lap. ``She was my gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize ,'' the Valencia resident said of Ebony ebony, common name for members of the Ebenaceae, a family of trees and shrubs widely distributed in warmer climates and in the tropics. The principal genus, Diospyros, includes both ebony and persimmon trees. , now 4. ``I felt like a winner because I had her.'' Crear recently qualified for the Olympic Games next month in Sydney, Australia, and Ebony is his biggest fan - and often his training partner. After a 1998 divorce, Crear was granted full custody and is raising Ebony as a single father. ``It's been very difficult, but I love my daughter and she's my inspiration,'' Crear said. ``Raising her is a privilege and a blessing.'' Ebony attends preschool three days a week, but when she's not at school, she's at the College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. track with dad getting ready for what she calls the ``Owimpics.'' ``We have a routine and kids like routine, so it works out pretty well,'' Crear said. ``I put her in the long-jump pit and she thinks she's at the beach. She's in there building sand castles and having a good time.'' Sure, Crear sometimes wishes he could go off to an Olympic training center for a few weeks, like many of the other athletes, but he has responsibilities at home. ``When my little girl wakes up with nightmares, I have to be there for her,'' Crear said. ``It's tough sometimes, but I wouldn't trade what I have for the world. Crear said he wants Ebony to have some stability in her life, which is one thing he didn't have when he was growing up. Crear was raised by a single mother who moved the family around a lot. He didn't meet his father until he was 16. ``Mark has basically had to struggle and fight for everything he's got,'' said Crear's manager, Roger Lipkis. ``Life has not been easy for him.'' ``But he handles his life the way he handles his sport, with focus and dedication, and that's probably the secret to his success,'' Lipkis said. Besides, Ebony is probably learning more at the track watching her dad than she learns at school playing with Play-Doh. Crear hopes that by watching him train, Ebony learns what hard work, discipline and prayer can bring. Like maybe a gold medal this time. Standing in his way is Allen Johnson
Allen K. Johnson (born March 1, 1971) is a hurdling athlete and won Olympic Gold in the 110 metre high hurdles at the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia. , who won the gold in Atlanta in 1996 and who will also be competing in Sydney. ``You've gotta got·ta Informal Contraction of got to: I gotta go home. have your competition - that's what makes you work harder,'' Crear said. ``We're always running 1 and 2, but I'm gonna gon·na Informal Contraction of going to: We're gonna win today. get him at the Olympics.'' ``I really feel that this is my year to win and I will be 110 percent focused on that,'' Crear said, alluding to the 110 meters in his event. But while Crear is determined to bring home the gold this time, he insists that he will be happy regardless of the outcome of the race. ``How many people have been to the Olympics and have a silver medal?'' he said. ``I just try to bring integrity, morals and Christian values The term Christian values usually refers to the values the speaker feels represent those found in the teachings of Christ as described in parts of the United States. The biblical teachings of Christ include CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) A single dad, Olympic hurdler Mark Crear has his hands full this summer as he trains and cares for his daughter, Ebony. (2 -- color) Mark Crear's 4-year-old daughter, Ebony, plays nearby as her dad stretches before a workout Workout Informal repayment or loan forgiveness arrangement between a borrower and creditors. workout 1. The process of a debtor's meeting a loan commitment by satisfying altered repayment terms. on the track at College of the Canyons in Valencia. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion