Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 4, 2009 8:30:51 GMT -5
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6457142.html
Westbury coach blazed early trail
McIntosh wants Rebels to follow in her golden steps
By SAM KHAN JR. Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 3, 2009, 10:48PM
A tradition of winning is often represented by tangible things. Plaques. Trophies. Championship banners. Those are all evidence of the glory days of any program.
At Westbury High School, the girls track and field program has those things. Plenty were collected from 1997-2000, when the Rebels won four consecutive state team championships.
The current Rebels also have living proof of Westbury’s shining moments in the form of their head coach — Raasin McIntosh — and under her guidance, they hope to make a name for themselves this weekend by winning a championship of their own at the state track and field meet, which begins Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
“To win a state title would be amazing,” junior sprinter Christy Udoh said. “Westbury is known for track, and it would be a blessing if we could go out and win it.”
Winning is something McIntosh is no stranger to. She entered the Westbury track program in 1997 under former coach Rose Brimmer, who is now an assistant coach for the University of Texas women’s program. Brimmer quickly realized that McIntosh had the drive to accomplish great things.
Dominant in 300 hurdles
“She was an extraordinary lady,” Brimmer said. “She played basketball all the way through to the end of February and then would come out for track. She even ran cross country. She qualified for (the state track meet) every year, and that’s hard to do. She has always been gutsy.
“She hated to lose. You never had to get on her when she lost because she was so hard on herself.”
McIntosh competed primarily in the 300-meter hurdles and the relays. She won back-to-back state titles in the 300 hurdles in 1999 and 2000 and was on three gold-medal Rebel relay teams as well. She moved on to UT and then competed professionally briefly before taking over the girls track program at Westbury in 2007.
And while she was “feisty,” as Brimmer described her, she definitely paid attention to Brimmer’s teachings. McIntosh said many of her philosophies and tactics stem from what she learned from Brimmer during her high school days.
“A lot of my style is mixed in with hers,” McIntosh said. “She taught me a lot. Of course, I have some New Age things because I’m younger, and I’m a different type of person.
“But a lot of the things she taught me, I try to emulate them here. (Hers are) big shoes to fill, but I try to do the best that I can.”
Been there, done that
The current Rebels have another level of respect for McIntosh, knowing that she has been where they want to go.
“Most of the time you don’t have that type of coach — that has been to the top,” junior Kristian Austin said. “She’s been through what we’ve been through. We can learn from her how to get to the top and stay there.”
The Rebels, which cruised to the Class 4A Region III title on May 19, hope to blaze their own trail. Westbury qualified its 400 and 800 relay teams as well as Udoh in the 200 and senior Nicole Washington in the 100.
The 2008 state meet left Westbury with a bit of unfinished business to take care of. The Rebels, who were in Class 5A at the time, finished fourth. They hope to make good by winning it all this time around.
Unfinished business
If they are able to do so, that would break Lancaster’s streak of eight consecutive 4A titles while returning Westbury to the girls track spotlight.
“That would be pretty sweet,” McIntosh said. “It would take care of what we didn’t last year.
“It would solidify their place in history. (These girls) would be talked about, and it would put them in their rightful spot.”
Westbury coach blazed early trail
McIntosh wants Rebels to follow in her golden steps
By SAM KHAN JR. Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 3, 2009, 10:48PM
A tradition of winning is often represented by tangible things. Plaques. Trophies. Championship banners. Those are all evidence of the glory days of any program.
At Westbury High School, the girls track and field program has those things. Plenty were collected from 1997-2000, when the Rebels won four consecutive state team championships.
The current Rebels also have living proof of Westbury’s shining moments in the form of their head coach — Raasin McIntosh — and under her guidance, they hope to make a name for themselves this weekend by winning a championship of their own at the state track and field meet, which begins Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
“To win a state title would be amazing,” junior sprinter Christy Udoh said. “Westbury is known for track, and it would be a blessing if we could go out and win it.”
Winning is something McIntosh is no stranger to. She entered the Westbury track program in 1997 under former coach Rose Brimmer, who is now an assistant coach for the University of Texas women’s program. Brimmer quickly realized that McIntosh had the drive to accomplish great things.
Dominant in 300 hurdles
“She was an extraordinary lady,” Brimmer said. “She played basketball all the way through to the end of February and then would come out for track. She even ran cross country. She qualified for (the state track meet) every year, and that’s hard to do. She has always been gutsy.
“She hated to lose. You never had to get on her when she lost because she was so hard on herself.”
McIntosh competed primarily in the 300-meter hurdles and the relays. She won back-to-back state titles in the 300 hurdles in 1999 and 2000 and was on three gold-medal Rebel relay teams as well. She moved on to UT and then competed professionally briefly before taking over the girls track program at Westbury in 2007.
And while she was “feisty,” as Brimmer described her, she definitely paid attention to Brimmer’s teachings. McIntosh said many of her philosophies and tactics stem from what she learned from Brimmer during her high school days.
“A lot of my style is mixed in with hers,” McIntosh said. “She taught me a lot. Of course, I have some New Age things because I’m younger, and I’m a different type of person.
“But a lot of the things she taught me, I try to emulate them here. (Hers are) big shoes to fill, but I try to do the best that I can.”
Been there, done that
The current Rebels have another level of respect for McIntosh, knowing that she has been where they want to go.
“Most of the time you don’t have that type of coach — that has been to the top,” junior Kristian Austin said. “She’s been through what we’ve been through. We can learn from her how to get to the top and stay there.”
The Rebels, which cruised to the Class 4A Region III title on May 19, hope to blaze their own trail. Westbury qualified its 400 and 800 relay teams as well as Udoh in the 200 and senior Nicole Washington in the 100.
The 2008 state meet left Westbury with a bit of unfinished business to take care of. The Rebels, who were in Class 5A at the time, finished fourth. They hope to make good by winning it all this time around.
Unfinished business
If they are able to do so, that would break Lancaster’s streak of eight consecutive 4A titles while returning Westbury to the girls track spotlight.
“That would be pretty sweet,” McIntosh said. “It would take care of what we didn’t last year.
“It would solidify their place in history. (These girls) would be talked about, and it would put them in their rightful spot.”
