Morquiez Headley came through as expected to lead Fairleigh Dickinson University of New Jersey to a decent performance in the Christmas Classic conducted by the Fordham University Track and Field team at the Lombardi Center Fieldhouse in The Bronx.
Headley, a junior, edged Phil Reid of Providence and Joshua Olayinka of New Jersey Institute of Technology in a hand time of 8.4 to 8.5 in the final race of the 60-meter hurdles in the initial meet of the indoor season.
He did not reach his personal best time of the winter season set last year when he was clocked in 8.5.
“It was his first time out this season, just to get over the hurdles, and work out the kincks” said assistant track coach Leroy Solomon, who was last year coaching at Long Island University. “That was the goal for today (this meet). ”That was accomplished). He started off faster this year (than he did last year). He has improved already.”
He had to sit out his first season here at Fairleigh Dickinson for personal reasons, and according to NCAA rules and regulations.
The two-sport athlete’s father Oral Headley originally hails from Jamaica, West Indies, liked to play cricket, and did so when he resided in the Caribbeans.
Before a meet like the Fordham sponsored one recently. Oral would talk to his son and tell him to try to do his best that he can in every meet that he is entered into and not to leave any single meet with anything on the track.
Soloman is in his first year at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
“It was timed for me to move over,” he added.
Leroy Soloman is the son of Fitz Roy Soloman, who is originally from Guyana, but according to Leroy Fitz Roy might have competed in cricket, but did not run, in Guyana.
“This is our first meet to see where everybody is,” said Leroy Solomon “During the fall, or during the cross country season, athletes who weren’t on the harrier squad trained to prepare themselves for the winter.”
“My goal this year is to score as many points for my team as I can to help the team out, and do my best,” he added after his race in the Christmas Classic.
“Headley’s goal for the season is to qualify for the IC4A meet and for his team to win the Conference (the Northeast championships) in the hurdles,” said the new assistant coach.
In January, Headley and the rest of his team members will be competing in the Terrier Classic Meet in Boston to highlight the month.
