Derick Adamson

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Derick Adamson
Personal information
Birth nameDerick Adamson
NationalityJamaican
Born (1958-03-24) 24 March 1958 (age 66)
Saint Mary, Jamaica
Sport
SportLong-distance running
Event(s)Marathon, 10,000 metres
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals1984, 1988
Commonwealth finals1990

Derick "Ringo" Adamson"[a] (born 24 March 1958) is a Jamaican former marathon runner. He competed at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and also won the 1984 and 1985 Philadelphia Marathons.

Sporting career[edit]

Adamson studied at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. During his time there, he was a four-time all-conference runner, competing in the steeplechase and other long-distance running events. In 1980, during his sophomore year, he won the NCAA Division III steeplechase championship, and finished fourth in the Jamaican trials for the 1980 Olympics.[1][2][3] Whilst a student, Adamson set the Jamaican steeplechase national record, and competed at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games.[4]

Adamson qualified for the marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games, where he finished 52nd in a time of 2:25:02.[5][b] Later in the year, he was scheduled to compete at the 1984 New York City Marathon, but withdrew before the start as the weather was too warm.[7] In the same year, he won the 1984 Philadelphia Marathon in a time of 2:16.39, a Jamaican national record in the event.[6][7][8] In 1985, Adamson won the event for a second consecutive year in a time of 2:18:27, 5 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of anyone else. After the race, Adamson said that he had hoped to have run a faster time, but was slowed down by the wind.[9][10] Adamson competed in the marathon at the 1988 Olympic Games, finishing 84th, and also ran the 10,000 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, where he finished ninth.[1][11]

Coaching career[edit]

Whilst a student, Adamson worked as a coach at Gloucester County College.[4] From 1983 to 1988, he was the men's head cross-country coach at Gloucester County College, and was also the women's head cross-country coach from 1991 to 1994.[3] He won the regional Coach of the Year award in 1985,[12] and won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In July 2014, Adamson became the first full-time Rowan coach for women's cross-country.[3]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Derrick Adamson in some sources.
  2. ^ Other sources suggest he finished 31st or 51st in the event.[1][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Wiggins, Ovetta (13 June 1991). "He's In Running For Olympic Berth". Philly.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  2. ^ "USATF mourns the loss of Pat Petersen and Bill Fritz". USA Track & Field. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Derick 'Ringo' Adamson named coach for Rowan women's cross country, T&F". National Collegiate Athletic Association. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Derick Adamson to coach at GCC". Courier-Post. 15 July 1982. p. 34. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Athletics at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games: Men's Marathon". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b "The winner of the Philadelphia Independence Marathon says he felt certain he could win if he followed his pre-race strategy". United Press International. 26 November 1984. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Philly Marathon to Adamson". The Morning Call. 26 November 1984. p. 28. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Fit again, Smith has sights on season-best in triple jump". The Gleaner. 27 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Derick 'Ringo' Adamson Sunday easily captured his second consecutive Philadelphia Independence Marathon". United Press International. 24 November 1985. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Adamson Takes Second Philadelphia Marathon". Ocala Star-Banner. 25 November 1985. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games: Men's Marathon". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  12. ^ "GCC's Derick Adamson named Coach of Year". Courier-Post. 27 November 1985. p. 16. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

External links[edit]