Samuels accessorizes with success
CYPRESS Springs girls track and field coach Ruqayya Gibson calls Samiyah Samuels a machine who persevered through pain and powered her team to new heights during a stellar four-year run on varsity, leading the Panthers to three consecutive top-three team finishes at state. The University of Houston signee and Olympic Trials hopeful finished her high school career with seven state medals (two gold, one silver, four bronze), earning her the Chronicle’s Girls Track Athlete of the Year award.
Q: How proud are you of your team’s three topthree finishes at state?
A: “I’m pretty proud of myself, and not only am I proud of myself, I’m proud of my team as well, because we put in a lot of work, and I like to think that I was part of building a legacy for Cy Springs. With me coming to the school and pushing all of the other girls, we became a top-notch team, so I’m proud of everything we did over the years.”
Q: You didn’t repeat as long jump champ or lead your team to a title, but you accomplished so much in four years. How do you keep everything in perspective?
A: “I feel good. Of course, I wanted to get the state record and everything, but you have to learn how to be humble and God does everything for a reason. So I didn’t win state my senior year, but I could win World Juniors this year or get a medal with the national team, and things like that. I don’t really dwell on the past because everything that happens to me is for a reason.”
Q: What goes through your mind when you look at all the medals you secured in high school? A: “I feel really good about it. Of course, I wish I could have a little bit more gold than I do, but I’m grateful for everything I do have, and it makes me feel really good. Even though it seems like high school went by fast, I can look back at every medal and think about the sacrifices I had to go through.”
Q: You said the medals you won this year at state are particularly special because of the obstacles you overcame, including coming back from a severe cramp in the 100-meter dash to take third in the long jump. Why is that?
A: “It was bittersweet because I worked really hard, with my diet and my training and everything, before state. So I already had in mind, ‘Look, I’m going to go in there and try to sweep gold in every event I’m competing in.’ But (after) getting hurt, I still had a hunger and I still wanted to … do something for my team as well.”
Q: What did you take away from that experience?
A: “Physically, I was OK, but mentally it was hard because there was pain in my leg and I had to block it out. The trainers were saying I was fine, it’s a cramp and I’m still able to compete, (and) if I compete the best I can, everything should be fine. But mentally I was still feeling the pain in my leg and it was scaring me every time I jumped.
“So I feel like I learned a lot about myself at my last state meet, because I found out how strong I really am. I always thought I was strong, but I figured out I was stronger than I thought I was because I was able to jump through pain.”
Q: How much are you looking forward to the USATF Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 24-26 in Clovis, Calif?
A: “It’s really exciting to me, especially because it’s an Olympic year. It’s not the Olympics, but there’s going to be a lot of hype this summer about making the team. A lot of, not just jumpers, but athletes in general, are really going to be trying to make the team this year, so it’s going to be really tight. But I’m excited because I’ve built up a lot of confidence in myself. I’ve gotten a lot stronger since last year, so I’m real pumped to do my thing and hopefully make the USA team.”