Thank you, Coach
Cumberland legend Kenwood honored at dual
CUMBERLAND — Dan Collard had just hustled – and labored – over three miles in under 16 minutes when he rounded some trees and began his descent down a small hill at the Cumberland Monastery course on Tuesday afternoon.
There, with less than 100 yards left, he said his heart skipped a beat.
“I felt it right here,” he said, pointing to his chest. “I thought, 'This is the last time I'm going to see T.K. standing there urging me on at the finish line,'” he stated.
Collard, like fellow Cumberland High junior tri-captains Nate Rogers and Mike Swerdlow, admitted they're going to miss “T.K.,” otherwise known as Tom Kenwood, who experienced his final home meet as a coach for the Clippers after a 43-year stint.
“The great thing about him is that he cares about everyone equally, regardless of talent,” Collard stated.
Offered Rogers: “He's unbelievable as a motivator, a mentor. I think he motivated the team by giving us a lot of feedback. Whenever we do well, he'll recognize the effort. If we had a bad day, he'll still find a positive, tell you, 'Don't worry about it. You can do it next week.' It's crazy to think this is his last home meet ever.”
It's not a stretch to say the Clippers' boys' Northern Division regular-season finale turned out to be a reunion of sorts. Dozens of former harriers, their parents, assistant coaches and others arrived at the monastery to pay homage to a man who himself created the culture of running excellence in town.
On the down side, CHS didn't manufacture an upset defeat of powerhouse and unbeaten Ponaganset on this day, dropping a 20-39 decision, but it did coast to 15-50 victories over Central Falls and North Providence to close their dual-meet campaign at 9-2 (tied for second with Burrillville and Smithfield).
None of that mattered to the throngs, however. This event was about the legend who coached them, befriended them, supported them.
“I had always known Tom as the Cumberland head coach when I was running at Shea, but I didn't know him,” said Mike Crawley, now the town's parks & recreation director and a 1981 Shea High graduate and All-Stater in the 3,000 meters. “He actually coached me at (the Community College of Rhode Island right out of high school.
“I didn't know it at the time, and I was only a freshman, but I discovered CCRI was starting a cross-country program, so I went out for it,” he continued. “Tom was the coach, and I just got to know him. I liked his personality – laid-back and caring, and he knew how to handle each person he coached.
“It didn't matter if you were the best runner on the team or the worst, he always treated you the same way. He does that to this day. Let's put it this way: He'd be as happy if Trevor (Crawley, his son) won a state title (which he did, in 2012) as he would for a kid who finished a cross-country race with a PR – at eight minutes a mile.
“He doesn't play favorites; that's what everyone likes about him.”
Among some of the ex-athletes to arrived to say “Thank you” to the consummate mentor included Crawley and son Trevor (a 2013 grad who excelled for four years in the Providence College crosscountry/track programs; Sean Connolly (2010); Bryan Kucher, Steve Healey and Kyle Bradley (2011); recent grads Will and Ryan Mardo, now competing for Assumption College; etc.
During a ceremony near the finish line – it was delayed a few minutes as Kenwood, naturally, had to start the girls race – Mayor Bill Murray proclaimed Oct. 3 “Tom Kenwood Day,” and issued to the “host of honor” a document procured by the Town Council dictating such.
Superintendent of Schools Robert Mitchell attended as well, offering “Tom Kenwood is a legend, and is so because he has profoundly impacted the lives of hundreds of younger people – and older people as well. As an educator, I don't think there's anything more satisfying than knowing you've made a difference in someone's life.”
The junior tri-captains presented him a plaque, and Jim Sullivan offered a quilt on behalf of former runners and their parents. On each square of the blanket had a symbol or name of some of the colleges and universities his kids had run at – and flourished.
During a short speech, Kenwood made the crowd laugh, stating, “In a month, I'll be in here playing Bingo,” He immediately pointed to the senior center behind him.
He thanked several folks, especially wife Kathy, who has helped him as a coach, secretary, caretaker of student-athletes, cook, nurse, driver, you-name -it, but also current assistants Varnum Elliott and Roland Roy; former assistant Ed Smith; and each and every one of his former athletes.
When asked what he was thinking when he awoke Tuesday morning, Kenwood chuckled, “I didn't start thinking about this day; I've been doing that all season. This was supposed to be a surprise because I didn't want anything big, but word got out on Facebook. Apparently, Mike (Crawley) requested to the council that this day be called Tom Kenwood Day, and everything exploded.
“What I've been thinking about is all the great kids I've coached over the years,” he added. “This group I have now is very young, we don't have a senior, but has a boatload of potential. I wish them the best. I'll be watching their progress.
“I received an e-mail from a kid (Monday night) – actually, he's an adult now named Norman Kim, and what he said really hit me. He ran for me my first year as the track coach in 1974. He wanted to thank me for inspiring him, as he's doing triathlons and rowing events, things like that. He told me he wouldn't be where he is today without me motivating him.
“You know, he's now in sports medicine, has been for years, and actually was at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics as one of the phsyicians charged with monitoring steroid use … I just thanked him. I said that it inspired me that he thought so much of me to write, and use the words he did.”
As for the meet itself, the Chieftains proved too strong, as Sam Harwood and Matt Rene took the top two spots in 16:41 and 16:59, respectively, and six of the top eight. Collard paced the Clippers in 17:12; Rogers took fifth in 17:38; and Brendan Johnson and Owen Molis rounded out the top 10 in 18:09 and 18:27.
Keith Sisson provided the final point in 12th.
Following the ceremony, as always, Kenwood could be seen gathering up the chute flags, placing equipment in his van and completing the chores he's so accustomed to doing.
“This was amazing,” Kenwood said wearing sunglasses, perhaps to hide a tear or two. “I didn't expect anything like this. I had a hint (Monday) night when Norman e-mailed me and said, 'I'm sure you're going to see a lot of your former runners.
“This is incredible, seeing this outpouring of support,” he added. “How they got all this information out there, I have no idea. I guess it just took off … But I'm not done yet. I've got a month left, and it starts this Saturday at the Manchester (Conn.) Invitational, then the Brown Invitational the following weekend (at Goddard State Park).”
Stated Mark Kenwood, who naturally was there with brother Chris and sister Michaela George to acknowledge their dad and former coach: “This means everything to him, seeing a lot of his former runners and their parents. The community that he contributed to has shown it appreciates him; you can really feel the sense of community here. When you come back, it's like a reunion.
“This kind of gathering doesn't surprise me because this shows who my dad is. He brings everyone together because he cares so much, and they know ti. He's so happy to see all of his former runners.”
Joked Michaela: “He never forgets a face, or a name!”
Jerry Bonner, a 2001 grad and arguably his finest distance runner before he suffered a career-ending heart affliction: “I'm here because of T.K. He's done everything for the town of Cumberland, the Bonner family, everyone's families, and not only Cumberland High School but also the youth track program in the summer.
“I can go back to the days when I was 10, and he ran the track events at Tucker Field. He's meant so much to all of us, and this is only a small way to repay him.”