By JP Hajjar ’16
THE ROUNDUP
Joshua Benjamin ’16 is a multi-sport athlete who maintains his grades while also competing in football and track and field.
“This is my third year (doing track) and for football, this will be my second,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin said he competes in the 100-meter, the 200-meter, the 400-meter, the 4 x 100-meter and the 1600-meter relay.
Not just a track athlete, Benjaminalso plays football.
“I play cornerback, wide receiver and last year I played some running back,” Benjamin said.
He has set his main focus on track as he has hopes to pursue it in college.
“Probably track in college, not really football. If I get a college offer for football I will do it. But I am hoping to run track in college,” Benjamin said.
Ben Posorske ’16, a close friend and teammate of Benjamin’s, said he has the potential to be great.
“He does have the potential to run college track if he just continues to push himself as he is pushing himself right now,” Posorske said.
Benjamin said that the coaches for track and football design workouts that help him get stronger and also provide drills that help him better understand what is happening during the game or meet.
Benjamin said he also focuses on being well-rounded in his academics and is a member of Student Council.
Even though at times it may be hard, Benjamin said he just keeps going.
“It’s a lot harder during football season, track is a little more laid back because the nature of the sport and coaches,” Benjamin said when asked about how he is able to focus on school work and sports at the same time.
Posorske said Benjamin works to his full potential in anything and everything he strives to achieve.
“He studies hard, he gets good grades and he tries his hardest at everything he does,” Posorske said. “In track, he is pushing himself harder than he was freshman year and he has just been taking it so much more seriously when he noticed that he really has great potential for it.”
Benjamin said his track teammates really push him to get better everyday.
“For track it is probably Bobby (Grant ’14), because I see how track can really help you get into a good school you want to go to,” Benjamin said. “It just makes me motivated to do it more, because seeing him he is really fun and he trains really hard so I think he is a good example.”
But not only is it his track teammates that help him as football players push him and also set a great example for Benjamin.
“For football I would say Isaiah (Oliver ’15), even though we don’t talk much about football, because we play the same positions and we both do track,” Benjamin said. “We do almost all the same things, so he is kind of how I would want to be as far as football goes.”
This year’s 1600-meter relay is first in the state and features some of the school’s top runners.
“Our 4 x 4 team is doing really well, we are No. 1 in the state. Every time we have run this year, it was the fastest time in the state. It’s me, Bobby, Isaiah,and Robert Brooks (’17),” Benjamin said.
At a meet that took place April 4 and 5, Benjamin ran in four events and medaled in three.
“I got first in the 4 x 1, first in the 4 x 4, third in the 200, fourth in the 400 and Brophy won overall,” he said.
When asked about what makes Benjamin special as a person in general, Posorske said he never stops working hard.
“Just his perseverance. He isn’t going to stop doing something until he gets what he wants,” Posorske said.
Head coach for track Mr. Bill Kalkman recognizes his hard work and knowledge not just in the classroom but on the track as well.
“He is a student-athlete. I see him as a really intelligent athlete so he knows how to work, how to train smart and how to compete well in events,” Mr. Kalkman said. “He performs well when it comes time to compete and he is also very smart about his training regiment. He takes good care of himself and he works hard.”