[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Menu Bar” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F7F7F5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” sticky_position=”top” motion_trigger_start=”top” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” background__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” background_color__sticky=”#F3F3F1″ background_enable_color__sticky=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”1.25vw||1.25vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”115″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_bg_color=”#cba052″ dropdown_menu_line_color=”#d7d2cb” dropdown_menu_text_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_active_link_color=”#313436″ mobile_menu_bg_color=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_text_color=”#2f2f2f” menu_icon_color=”#25282a” mobile_menu_bg_color_tablet=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_phone=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” menu_text_color=”#313436″ menu_font_size=”1.3em” background_enable_color=”off” background_layout=”dark” menu_font_size_tablet=”2vw” menu_font_size_phone=”3vw” menu_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” mobile_menu_bg_color__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” menu_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” menu_text_color__hover=”#711421″][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Article Title Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_color=”#EAE9E5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2021\/12\/Circlebottom-right_cut-of-circle_gold-red@2x.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”19px||0px||false|false” bottom_divider_height=”40px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ width=”100%” max_width=”1253px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”9px|2vw||2vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|2vw||6vw|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||||false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0.25vw|1vw|1vw|1vw|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|7vw||7vw|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” text_text_color=”#862633″ text_font_size=”1.1em” link_font=”||||on|||#2f2f2f|” link_text_color=”#2f2f2f” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” custom_margin=”||11px|||” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#d7d2cb” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Athletics\u00a0 |\u00a0 Long Read<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”3.8vw” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”2.5vw” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_font_size_tablet=”6vw” header_font_size_phone=”7vw” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”4vw” header_2_font_size_phone=”5.6vw” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” module_class=”rowFlexChild” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Copy1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”63px||0px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By Rachel Pinton \u201901, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications, Marketing & Branding<\/span> |\u00a0 Winter 2023<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n One of the most decorated track and field athletes to come through 秘密研究所, Cheickna Traore \u201923 first stepped foot on American soil at the young age of five from the Ivory Coast. Traore quickly learned that the United States could offer him and his family a great opportunity for a quality life, including a top notch college education. \u201cAfter focusing my college search solely on Division I and II schools, I was encouraged to take a look at Ramapo,\u201d Traore said.<\/p>\n Traore immediately saw the campus for its tight-knit community.\u00a0 After his first visit, he knew it was the place to call home for the next few years, deciding on Ramapo mainly because of Head Coach Justina Cassavell. \u201cShe showed me that she truly cared about me as a person. She was dedicated to have me compete as a Roadrunner.\u201d\u00a0 But the transition of getting accustomed to his new environment and the coaching staff was not so seamless at the starting line. \u201cCoach Cassavell was 100% supportive and made me feel at home, but I didn\u2019t trust Assistant Coach Ackeme Brown at first, which I told him right away.\u201d<\/p>\n Traore\u2019s background in high school included mostly cross-country. Daily trainings consisted of long distance running as the key component. Coach Brown changed tactics to teach Traore to use his number one artistry, his speed, and focus on the skill of sprinting. \u201cJust watching his very first practice with me, I knew he could be special,\u201d Assistant Coach Brown stated. \u201cWhat he has done already in just over two years is beyond even my expectations.\u201d Traore\u2019s trust for Brown slowly built as each practice day passed, and with just one collegiate meet under his belt, the athlete\/coach bond was evident. \u201cIt took just one meet for me to quickly understand why and how his trainings and belief in me would translate into a competitive collegiate career on the track, rather than running long distances, so the trust eventually settled in.\u201d<\/p>\n Traore came to 秘密研究所 in the Fall of 2019 out of Innovation High School in Jersey City. “I am very grateful Cheickna decided to attend 秘密研究所 and embrace our program and our new sprint coach,\u201d Head Coach Cassavell stated. \u201cWatching them both develop into an incredible coach and athlete has been one of the highlights of my career.”<\/p>\n It was a short time in which Traore made his mark at the College as he earned one of his first accolades at the conclusion of his rookie season being named New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year.\u00a0 \u201cRamapo in general, but especially my teammates, have become my community.\u00a0 The College\u2019s small nature has allowed me to meet so many great people both on my team and on the campus in general, and their support has lifted me to accomplish so much in such a short time.\u201d<\/p>\n The list of records broken, both locally and nationally, and awards and honors he has already received is extensive, with still a full season of competing left under his collegiate belt. \u201cThe most meaningful accomplishment to me has to be my personal best time of 20.56 seconds in the 200-meter dash.\u201d Traore clocked his personal best at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship where he posted the second-best time in NCAA Division III history, placing 2nd overall and earning All-American honors. \u201cIt was the biggest shock of my life.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think people quite understand what that time means as a Division III athlete, but it shows I can keep fighting to run faster,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Copy1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”16px||||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text ol_position=”outside” ol_item_indent=”18px” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As a senior athlete, he has built an extensive resume.\u00a0 He is a three-time All-American and individually holds all three outdoor open sprint records at Ramapo in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races. He holds the 60, 200, 300, 400, and 500-meter records on the indoor track, while also being a part of the record breaking 4×400-meter relay team for both indoor and outdoor. He currently holds the NCAA Division III National Record in the 300 and 500-meter dashes. \u201cI\u2019ve watched him break every single one of his records one by one, and I can say I\u2019ve been impressed every time a record falls,\u201d Brown added. Along with being named the NJAC Rookie of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track and field, he was also named to the NJAC First Team All-Conference on four occasions.\u00a0 He has numerous individual NJAC Championships in the 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash, while earning NCAA Metro All-Region and NCAA All-Atlantic Region honors in multiple events. He\u2019s been named the Thomas M. Gerrity Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year and the G. Larry James Most Outstanding Athlete for the NJAC Conference. \u00a0 He clocked in as champion at the All-Atlantic Region Championship in the 400-meter dash with a meet record, earning U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Metro Region Athlete of the Year.<\/p>\n Traore isn\u2019t stopping yet. \u201cMy family is my biggest drive and motivation to compete.\u00a0 They have supported me throughout my career, even when I wasn\u2019t that good in high school.\u00a0 I set crazy goals for myself and I plan to do the same after my college career has ended.\u201d\u00a0 Traore plans to continue to train while attending a Division I college with similarities to Ramapo\u2019s size and family atmosphere, to complete a masters degree in data analytics.<\/p>\n His athletic sights are set on representing his country, the Ivory Coast, at the 2024 Olympics.\u00a0 Though he wishes he started the sport at an earlier age which may have excelled him to higher levels, he is thankful for what the sport brought to his life, including celebrating accomplishments with his family and teammates.\u00a0 Once he makes his Olympic debut, Traore plans to hang up the spikes, knowing the sport could not possibly be his livelihood.\u00a0 \u201cThe sport has been good to me, but I know my future brings a career doing something in IT, and I\u2019m okay with that!\u201d<\/p>\nA Sprint to the Finish Line:<\/h2>\n
Traore\u2019s Record Breaking Collegiate Career<\/b><\/h1>\n