Texas Tech’s Dwayne Extol, New Venue, Same Goals

Jamaica’s Dwayne Extol has a new address; the 21 year 400m hurdles specialist has transferred from the University of Alabama and is now a member of the Texas Tech University track team. “The whole situation at Alabama is that I wasn’t comfortable; I wasn’t getting along with the coaching staff because they have different ideas for my future than I have for myself. I decided that it would be better for me to go somewhere else where I can be more comfortable,” said Extol Dwayne, who is best known for leading his Wolmer’s High School team to the 2010 Jamaican high school track and field Boys Championship after a 54 year drought, was a teammate of Grenada’s Kirani James during his (Extol) freshman year at Alabama. With the departure of Harvey Glance and the rest of the coaching staff at the end of his first year at Alabama and with a new coaching staff coming in, things were not moving forward for Extol. “Last year at Alabama wasn’t the same as the coaches who had recruited me had left. I did not have the same mindset as I had in my first year. I felt lost and unmotivated,” said Extol. New beginnings Transferring to Texas Tech has started a new chapter in the life of Extol. “I am absolutely excited about my new location and I am settling in perfectly. My coaches have been preparing me over the fall, and this is probably the toughest fall … I have had since high school.  My body is ready and is responding well to practice. I just want to get out there and start the season rolling,” said a confident Extol. Extol started his season last weekend (Jan 12) at the Texas Tech Open where he competed in the 600m and finished in 7^th place in a time of in 1:12.64 seconds. This weekend (Jan 19) Extol posted a time of 21.78 seconds in the 200m for 4^th place at the Masked Rider Open.  At Texas Tech, Extol has re-united with one of his coaches from Alabama and he is excited about the game plan that is in place for him this season. “At the start of this season, I have sat down with my coach, and his goal for me is make the Jamaican World Championships team this summer. We are also interested in competing at the World University Games and my coach believes that I can make both teams in the 400m hurdles.” This season, Extol said that he will be competing in the 400m hurdles, the open 400m as well as running on Texas Tech’s 4x4 relay team.  Adjusting well in the classroom Extol, who is pursuing a degree in electronic media and communications with a minor in psychology, is also adjusting well in the classroom. Extol said, “since high school, the classroom has never been a problem for me. (At Texas Tech) we have a great academic staff; they are helpful and they help us in the classroom as well as outside the class.” Extol is also trying to adjust to the weather. “One day it is 75 degrees the next day it is 19 degrees; one day it might be snowing and raining at the same time; you just never know.” Reflections and future mindset “The Wolmer’s experience prepared me more that I had expected and that whole experience was just a stepping stone for greater things. I had to lead a team of 39 athletes and I get the feeling that wherever I go, that is the position (leadership) that I will always be in.” Extol slowed down in the 200m finals at the Boys Championship so that his teammate Julian Forte could win the sprint double, Forte having earlier won the 100m title. He credits his high school coach David Riley for his sense of responsibility and leadership. “When I was at Wolmer’s, Coach Riley played a key role in my development as a person and always taught me to lead by example,” he reflected with pride. Perhaps Extol is still living by those valuable lessons from Coach Riley as he has taken his Texas Tech teammate, freshman Julian Munroe from the Bahamas under his wings and is mentoring him. “I am trying to get him (Monroe) accustomed to the new environment; he is adjusting well in practice. Coach has him running the relays just to get him accustomed to running indoors; he is getting it.” Extol mindset heading into the major events this year is:  “I am not worried about the Jamaican Trials and all that is coming down the road; I am more concerned about getting things right at this point of the season. And when the Trials come, I will be ready.”   Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook