University of Minnesota Athletics
Jamaicans Kadian Douglas and Vanessa Nelson Heating Up Minnesota Track
5/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Take a glance down the Minnesota Golden Gophers' women's track and field team roster, and you notice the predominance of student-athletes who hail from Minnesota; a handful from the surrounding states of North Dakota and Wisconsin; a sprinkling of others from across the country; and a nice flavor of international student-athletes. Two of these international student-athletes, freshmen sprinter Kadian Douglas and sprinter/jumper Vanessa Nelson, temporarily gave up the island life for a taste of Minnesota Nice. The Jamaican tandem packed their running prowess, hopped on a plane and landed in Minnesota ready to run. Call it the birth of the Jamaica-U of M pipeline.
"The cold weather was tough," Douglas said. "The first semester, my skin was getting all flaky and stuff. I used a lot of lotion. I'm also not used to training with so many clothes on."
"The cold weather is a big difference from home," Nelson added. "At times, I would have problems breathing, but now my body's used to it."
Of course, when you come from, well, anywhere, to this land of long, dark and cold winters, those types of initial complications are expected. But when the view from your window suddenly goes from blue skies and swaying palm trees to a world frozen over, you might expect to read a tale of two Jamaican runners who landed in Minnesota, put on their running shoes and immediately sprinted back to their homeland.
"At first, the transition from Jamaica to Minnesota was hard, but with the help of my coaches, I got through it," Nelson said.
"Even though it's cold here and it's a big change," Douglas said, "now that I'm here, I really enjoy it."
And those associated with the Golden Gopher women's track and field team are enjoying the experience, too.
"It's exciting to have two such outstanding individuals and athletes with us at Minnesota," women's track and field coach Gary Wilson said. "They're doing a great job of adapting to our program, our culture and our climate."
Douglas has dashed from the starting blocks in the form of a Jamaican sensation, having placed in Minnesota's top-ten all-time lists three times during the past indoor season (fourth all-time in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.58 seconds; seventh in the 200-meter dash, 25.04; and seventh as a participant on the 4x400 relay team) as well as twice thus far in the outdoor season (Minnesota's sixth-best outdoor time in the 100-meter dash, 11.87 and the eighth-best time in the 200-meter dash, 24.57).
Nelson, for her part, isn't exactly being left behind by her fellow countrywoman. She placed fourth on the Gophers' all-time list in the indoor 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.75, and this outdoor season earned the second-best time in school history in the 100-meter hurdles with a 14.00 effort. And she complements her rapidly growing resume this outdoor season with solid performances in the 200-meter dash, long jump, and the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays.
Still, one question begs to be answered: Why Minnesota?
"Minnesota's history, with Mitch Potter and Adam Steele, really put the school's program on the map," Nelson said. "It's also a good school academically, and that's why I'm here."
"[Assistant Coach Matt Bingle] was at Eastern Michigan," Douglas said, "and one of my coaches in Jamaica tried to get me to Eastern Michigan. Then Matt came here and asked if I wanted to come to Minnesota. Being born was the happiest day of my life, but this is close. It's definitely good for me."
Douglas and Nelson, who aside from participating at the same track meets in Jamaica did not know each other before attending the U of M, have quickly warmed up to their new home, teammates and lifestyles.
"Kadian's older and more experienced," Nelson said, "so she's like a big sister to me. Coach Wilson is like a father to me. "What I do here as far as training with assistant Matt (Assistant Coach Matt Bingle) is similar to how I trained in Jamaica."
Douglas, too, shared some insights on her Minnesota experience.
"The academics are different," she said. "You have to learn a large amount in a short time. It's taught me to be disciplined. The food was a big change, too. At first, I was eating too many fries and things. And training is much tougher here. Now, I feel like my body has been reborn, having gotten used to the heavy training load."
While each has absorbed a number of changes since arriving in Minnesota, both Douglas and Nelson realize their careers as Golden Gopher track athletes are just beginning.
For Nelson, she's learned to focus on being more consistent. "I've noticed that I'll have a good week and then a bad week," she said, "and I've learned that even though I may run well one week, I still have to work hard to do well the next week."
Douglas has always used the bigger goals on her mind to keep her focused on the immediate tasks at hand. "I was always the fastest girl in my grade school, but there was always one boy who could beat me. That motivated me. Now, I'd like to go to the NCAA Championships, and knowing how competitive I am, I think I will make it. I also hope that one day I can represent Jamaica. I've always wanted to go to the Olympics. That's my dream, and should it be fulfilled, that would be the happiest time of my life."
While the on-track performances of each of these student-athletes have often been eye-catching, the enthusiasm that each brings to their craft lends a glimpse into the mental makeup of these skilled performers.
"I love track, and there's nothing I'd change about it," Nelson said. "The competition, training-it all makes you a better athlete and person. It's hard at times, but that's the only way you can get better."
Douglas's thoughts mirror that philosophy. "I love running, and I'll do anything to succeed. Just being here was one of my goals. Now that I'm here, I want to make my family proud, my friends proud, my coaches proud."
Both, too, know that there will be a day after track, and each is taking the preparation for life beyond jumping and sprinting seriously by grasping the educational opportunity they've earned. Nelson, a political science major, has a fundamental but important professional goal. "My dream is to go back to Jamaica and help make my country a better place."
Douglas, who hopes to gain admittance to the Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and earn an accounting degree, evaluated her future and said. "I like music-I play the drums in my church. I love track. I like acting, and I make a lot of jokes. My friends always ask how all that comes together. Well, I'd like to start an accounting firm and a band someday."
For now, though, Nelson and Douglas are busy repelling the cold, embracing their new home away from home and running down their dreams. What excites them most, they said, is the way their teammates and coaches have welcomed them as part of the University of Minnesota and as members of the women's track and field squad.
"We have a very good team this year, with a lot of freshman," Nelson said with an eye beyond this season. "We also have a lot of seniors, so when they leave, we should do well."
"Our team is so close," Douglas said. "We really care about each other. At the meets, we cheer each other on, and that's a big thing. And I love all my coaches. Hopefully, them bringing me here will pay off for everyone."
So far, these two cool runners are doing their best to turn their opportunities into blazing-hot success stories.
Written by Chad Caruthers, Minnesota Media Relations Assistant Jamaica Queens: Freshmen Gopher Sprinter/Jumper Vanessa Nelson and Sprinter Kadian Douglas Heat Up Minnesota Track
Take a glance down the Minnesota Golden Gophers' women's track and field team roster, and you notice the predominance of student-athletes who hail from Minnesota; a handful from the surrounding states of North Dakota and Wisconsin; a sprinkling of others from across the country; and a nice flavor of international student-athletes. Two of these international student-athletes, freshmen sprinter Kadian Douglas and sprinter/jumper Vanessa Nelson, temporarily gave up the island life for a taste of Minnesota Nice. The Jamaican tandem packed their running prowess, hopped on a plane and landed in Minnesota ready to run. Call it the birth of the Jamaica-U of M pipeline.
"The cold weather was tough," Douglas said. "The first semester, my skin was getting all flaky and stuff. I used a lot of lotion. I'm also not used to training with so many clothes on."
"The cold weather is a big difference from home," Nelson added. "At times, I would have problems breathing, but now my body's used to it."
Of course, when you come from, well, anywhere, to this land of long, dark and cold winters, those types of initial complications are expected. But when the view from your window suddenly goes from blue skies and swaying palm trees to a world frozen over, you might expect to read a tale of two Jamaican runners who landed in Minnesota, put on their running shoes and immediately sprinted back to their homeland.
"At first, the transition from Jamaica to Minnesota was hard, but with the help of my coaches, I got through it," Nelson said.
"Even though it's cold here and it's a big change," Douglas said, "now that I'm here, I really enjoy it."
And those associated with the Golden Gopher women's track and field team are enjoying the experience, too.
"It's exciting to have two such outstanding individuals and athletes with us at Minnesota," women's track and field coach Gary Wilson said. "They're doing a great job of adapting to our program, our culture and our climate."
Douglas has dashed from the starting blocks in the form of a Jamaican sensation, having placed in Minnesota's top-ten all-time lists three times during the past indoor season (fourth all-time in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.58 seconds; seventh in the 200-meter dash, 25.04; and seventh as a participant on the 4x400 relay team) as well as twice thus far in the outdoor season (Minnesota's sixth-best outdoor time in the 100-meter dash, 11.87 and the eighth-best time in the 200-meter dash, 24.57).
Nelson, for her part, isn't exactly being left behind by her fellow countrywoman. She placed fourth on the Gophers' all-time list in the indoor 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.75, and this outdoor season earned the second-best time in school history in the 100-meter hurdles with a 14.00 effort. And she complements her rapidly growing resume this outdoor season with solid performances in the 200-meter dash, long jump, and the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays.
Still, one question begs to be answered: Why Minnesota?
"Minnesota's history, with Mitch Potter and Adam Steele, really put the school's program on the map," Nelson said. "It's also a good school academically, and that's why I'm here."
"[Assistant Coach Matt Bingle] was at Eastern Michigan," Douglas said, "and one of my coaches in Jamaica tried to get me to Eastern Michigan. Then Matt came here and asked if I wanted to come to Minnesota. Being born was the happiest day of my life, but this is close. It's definitely good for me."
Douglas and Nelson, who aside from participating at the same track meets in Jamaica did not know each other before attending the U of M, have quickly warmed up to their new home, teammates and lifestyles.
"Kadian's older and more experienced," Nelson said, "so she's like a big sister to me. Coach Wilson is like a father to me. "What I do here as far as training with assistant Matt (Assistant Coach Matt Bingle) is similar to how I trained in Jamaica."
Douglas, too, shared some insights on her Minnesota experience.
"The academics are different," she said. "You have to learn a large amount in a short time. It's taught me to be disciplined. The food was a big change, too. At first, I was eating too many fries and things. And training is much tougher here. Now, I feel like my body has been reborn, having gotten used to the heavy training load."
While each has absorbed a number of changes since arriving in Minnesota, both Douglas and Nelson realize their careers as Golden Gopher track athletes are just beginning.
For Nelson, she's learned to focus on being more consistent. "I've noticed that I'll have a good week and then a bad week," she said, "and I've learned that even though I may run well one week, I still have to work hard to do well the next week."
Douglas has always used the bigger goals on her mind to keep her focused on the immediate tasks at hand. "I was always the fastest girl in my grade school, but there was always one boy who could beat me. That motivated me. Now, I'd like to go to the NCAA Championships, and knowing how competitive I am, I think I will make it. I also hope that one day I can represent Jamaica. I've always wanted to go to the Olympics. That's my dream, and should it be fulfilled, that would be the happiest time of my life."
While the on-track performances of each of these student-athletes have often been eye-catching, the enthusiasm that each brings to their craft lends a glimpse into the mental makeup of these skilled performers.
"I love track, and there's nothing I'd change about it," Nelson said. "The competition, training-it all makes you a better athlete and person. It's hard at times, but that's the only way you can get better."
Douglas's thoughts mirror that philosophy. "I love running, and I'll do anything to succeed. Just being here was one of my goals. Now that I'm here, I want to make my family proud, my friends proud, my coaches proud."
Both, too, know that there will be a day after track, and each is taking the preparation for life beyond jumping and sprinting seriously by grasping the educational opportunity they've earned. Nelson, a political science major, has a fundamental but important professional goal. "My dream is to go back to Jamaica and help make my country a better place."
Douglas, who hopes to gain admittance to the Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and earn an accounting degree, evaluated her future and said. "I like music-I play the drums in my church. I love track. I like acting, and I make a lot of jokes. My friends always ask how all that comes together. Well, I'd like to start an accounting firm and a band someday."
For now, though, Nelson and Douglas are busy repelling the cold, embracing their new home away from home and running down their dreams. What excites them most, they said, is the way their teammates and coaches have welcomed them as part of the University of Minnesota and as members of the women's track and field squad.
"We have a very good team this year, with a lot of freshman," Nelson said with an eye beyond this season. "We also have a lot of seniors, so when they leave, we should do well."
"Our team is so close," Douglas said. "We really care about each other. At the meets, we cheer each other on, and that's a big thing. And I love all my coaches. Hopefully, them bringing me here will pay off for everyone."
So far, these two cool runners are doing their best to turn their opportunities into blazing-hot success stories.
Written by Chad Caruthers, Minnesota Media Relations Assistant
Players Mentioned
