Perry's Jeremiah Wardrobe outdisstanced the lines of Kubasaki's Ryan Hater and Yokota's Baron Reed to win four events, the 100 in meet-record time, in last month's Far East. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Jeremiah Wardrobe spent the just-concluded track and field season finishing on top in every race except one, breaking the Far East meet record in the 100 and setting personal bests in the 200 and 400.
His Matthew C. Perry team needed an anchor for the 400-meter relay in the last two weeks of the season. One of the more challenging events in the sport. You don’t just run the fastest time, but you must get the baton from start to finish with three seamless handoffs.
And dropping the baton can ruin everything. Something that Wardrobe said he had to simply not worry about.
“Negative thoughts like that are going to happen all the time,” said Wardrobe, who won four DODEA-Pacific Far East meet events on his home course. “Those are possibilities. You have to have a clear head and make those things pass, more mental fortification.”
Wardrobe said the chemistry between he and teammates Reyden Edeyaoch, Lucas Hendra and Kai Digay helped the Samurai emerge victorious.
“The energy that those guys give off, feed off each other, confidence and trust in each other, it all came together on the day of the final,” Wardrobe said. The Samurai won in 43.36 seconds.
He went unbeaten in the 100 and 200 in six meets this season, losing only the 400 in a March 14 race at Yokota. On April 28, Day 2 of Far East, he broke the seven-year-old meet 100 record, running 10.72.
Wardrobe was named Far East Athlete of the Meet for boys, set six school records over the season, and has been named Stars and Stripes Pacific’s boys track and field Athlete of the Year.
Earning Pacific’s fastest human honors didn’t come without challenges. Wardrobe had to go up against the Pacific 100-meter record holder, Jeremiah Tucker of Okinawa Christian, and Kubasaki’s Ryan Hater, also seniors.
“Not being able to see them until Far East, I didn’t know how big those guys performed,” Wardrobe said, adding that his big competition in the regular season came against Baron Reed of Yokota.
“I was not nervous,” Wardrobe said. “The final was something I prepared for all season. Repetition, execution with every ability I know I have. I was confident. Tunnel vision. Just me and the finish line. I can only control what I’m doing. That’s the beauty of the sport.”
He also won the long jump, another event that involves good timing. It’s not just about jumping the furthest, but ensuring you don’t plant your takeoff foot ahead of the launch board.
“I try not to think about scratching, disqualifying, trying to hit the board right and getting to the back of the pit,” Wardrobe said. “It’s not a factor, considering the effort that me and coach (Melissa Cole) put into making sure the steps are right.”
As a senior captain, Wardrobe also had the responsibility of ensuring his teammates were ready and motivated for competition. His presence, Cole said, was a conversation stopper.
“When he steps onto the track or steps into a room when we’re meeting, he changes the atmosphere,” Cole said.
“His presence is immediately known. Adults and athletes take note. They see his confidence and others want to be as confident as he and strive to be that confident. He completely believes in himself. He is a model for other students to strive for.”
Age — 18.
Place of birth — Jacksonville, Fla.
Favorite school subject — History
Least favorite school subject — Math.
Favorite athletes — LeBron James.
Favorite forms of entertainment — video games, hip-hop and rap music, especially when working out.
