Like many coaches with programs that don't have a feeder system, Rahway coach Leon Bunion can often be found stopping students in hallways, the gym, the cafeteria, the parking lot, and maybe even the grocery store in an attempt to convince them to give track and field a try.
Bunion knows that one of the best things about track and field is that there is an event for everyone, and that there is so much untapped talent just wandering around waiting to be discovered. The key is to get students to show up at the track and buy in so all that talent can be unlocked.
That's what happened with Rolando Simpson, the subject of this week's NJ MileSplit "Future Stars'' spotlight series.
One day back in November, Bunion was in the gym at Rahway High chatting with his buddy and assistant track coach Danny Johnson when he delivered one of his sales pitches to an unsuspecting student.
"I noticed this lanky freshman just hanging out with his friend and asked him to join the track and field team,'' said Bunion, who teaches Business at Rahway. Simpson, without any questions, comments, or concerns, responded by simply saying "ok.''
Simpson, just a couple months after stepping on a track for the first time ever, wound up becoming the fastest freshman in the state in the 400 meters indoors by running 53.14. And he's currently the No. 1 freshman in the state outdoors in 400 with the 53.66 he ran to finish first at the Rising Stars Invitational at Rahway River Park last Friday. Simpson also ran 24.66 for 200m indoors, and has run 12.24 for 100m this spring.
Bunion said Simpson is still learning about training and racing like any rookie track and field athlete, but that there's no doubt his potential is limitless.
