Miss-Delectable
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HeraldNet: Gold-medal bound?
Time is running out. Every minute of every workout is critical now.
So far, Josiah Cheslik seems up to the challenge.
Cheslik, a 2007 Lake Stevens High School graduate, is in the final stages of preparing for the fourth Pan American Deaf Games in Valencia, Venezuela. The accomplished runner, who was born deaf, plans to compete for the United States in three events - the 400- and 800-meter runs, and the 1,600-meter relay - at the Pan Am Deaf Games, scheduled for August 11-18.
Red-faced and sweaty after a grueling workout Friday morning, Cheslik said he is confident he can perform well in Venezuela, where the generally hot weather and significant altitude (about 1,700 feet) will test his fitness.
Cheslik's trainer, Stuart Chaffee, expects the 18-year-old to do well, particularly after watching Cheslik tear through Friday's punishing running drills.
"You handled that better than I thought you would, to be honest," Chaffee said to Cheslik, who has an ultra-smooth, efficient stride. "We're pretty close to where we need to be."
Usually, Chaffee communicates with Cheslik by writing notes on a piece of paper. But sometimes one of Cheslik's friends who knows sign language translates the coach-athlete conversations, as was the case Friday.
Cheslik is a coach's dream, said Chaffee, who uses flattering words like intelligent, analytical and incredible to describe the swift runner. Coaching a deaf athlete forces Chaffee to thoroughly explain the purpose of his training strategies.
"I love working with him. It makes you really, really, really think through every single process of what you're doing," said Chaffee, who previously worked with Cheslik as an assistant track and cross country coach at Lake Stevens. "With Josiah, you have to be very precise about every single detail and explain it so he knows why he's doing it."
Without a doubt, Cheslik knows why he's doing it. Coaches say he has a chance to win a Pan Am Deaf Games championship in the 800, his best event, and to place top-four in the 400.
"My understanding," said Chaffee, "is that if he has a good race, he's definitely gonna be in contention."
Thomas Withrow, President of USA Deaf Track and Field and the team's head coach, recruited Cheslik for the Pan Am Deaf Games. Cheslik's personal-best times - 1 minute, 55.88 seconds in the 800 and 51.7 in the 400 - are impressive, Withrow said.
"As far as I know, he is going to bring back home a gold medal! I do not know or am aware of any (other strong 800) runner from North or South America," Withrow wrote in an e-mail.
This is the first step in a potentially epic journey for Cheslik. Athletes who perform well at the Pan Am Deaf Games can qualify for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan, which features competitors from all around the world.
Advancing to the Deaflympics, Cheslik said, is a major goal. But just getting to compete against deaf athletes again will be fulfilling.
Cheslik attended a school for the deaf in Idaho throughout childhood until he was 12, but he hasn't raced deaf runners or had consistent interaction with them in about six years. He recently connected with Lakewood High alum Amber Nash, a talented hurdler who placed second in the 400 hurdles at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. At the Pan Am Deaf Games, Cheslik will interact with dozens of peers who communicate the same way he does.
"I'm excited about that. I really want to do it. The communication will be so much better," Cheslik said through an interpreter, his mom, Debi Cheslik. Josiah's trip to Venezuela will be his first outside the U.S., other than a family trip to Tijuana, Mexico, when he was an infant.
Besides the social benefits, Cheslik's trip to the Pan Am Deaf Games will level the playing field. When he runs against athletes with normal hearing, Cheslik deals with some disadvantages.
First, at the starting line he sometimes gets a late jump unless the starter's gun is loud enough for him to feel the vibration. Otherwise, he waits for competitors to move. On the bright side, Cheslik's never been disqualified for starting early.
Another difficulty occurs when runners try to pass Cheslik. Unlike other athletes, who easily sense a runner coming from behind, Cheslik often has no clue. To counteract that problem, Cheslik learned to occasionally glance over his right shoulder - very quickly - to gauge where opponents are.
The deficiencies won't limit Cheslik in Venezuela, though. Besides, even against runners with normal hearing, Cheslik excels because of his potent blend of endurance and sprinting ability. And don't forget about his toughness.
"He has better foot speed than most of the kids out there," Chaffee said. "And he's just tough. He competes really well and he's just tough as nails."
Time is running out. Every minute of every workout is critical now.
So far, Josiah Cheslik seems up to the challenge.
Cheslik, a 2007 Lake Stevens High School graduate, is in the final stages of preparing for the fourth Pan American Deaf Games in Valencia, Venezuela. The accomplished runner, who was born deaf, plans to compete for the United States in three events - the 400- and 800-meter runs, and the 1,600-meter relay - at the Pan Am Deaf Games, scheduled for August 11-18.
Red-faced and sweaty after a grueling workout Friday morning, Cheslik said he is confident he can perform well in Venezuela, where the generally hot weather and significant altitude (about 1,700 feet) will test his fitness.
Cheslik's trainer, Stuart Chaffee, expects the 18-year-old to do well, particularly after watching Cheslik tear through Friday's punishing running drills.
"You handled that better than I thought you would, to be honest," Chaffee said to Cheslik, who has an ultra-smooth, efficient stride. "We're pretty close to where we need to be."
Usually, Chaffee communicates with Cheslik by writing notes on a piece of paper. But sometimes one of Cheslik's friends who knows sign language translates the coach-athlete conversations, as was the case Friday.
Cheslik is a coach's dream, said Chaffee, who uses flattering words like intelligent, analytical and incredible to describe the swift runner. Coaching a deaf athlete forces Chaffee to thoroughly explain the purpose of his training strategies.
"I love working with him. It makes you really, really, really think through every single process of what you're doing," said Chaffee, who previously worked with Cheslik as an assistant track and cross country coach at Lake Stevens. "With Josiah, you have to be very precise about every single detail and explain it so he knows why he's doing it."
Without a doubt, Cheslik knows why he's doing it. Coaches say he has a chance to win a Pan Am Deaf Games championship in the 800, his best event, and to place top-four in the 400.
"My understanding," said Chaffee, "is that if he has a good race, he's definitely gonna be in contention."
Thomas Withrow, President of USA Deaf Track and Field and the team's head coach, recruited Cheslik for the Pan Am Deaf Games. Cheslik's personal-best times - 1 minute, 55.88 seconds in the 800 and 51.7 in the 400 - are impressive, Withrow said.
"As far as I know, he is going to bring back home a gold medal! I do not know or am aware of any (other strong 800) runner from North or South America," Withrow wrote in an e-mail.
This is the first step in a potentially epic journey for Cheslik. Athletes who perform well at the Pan Am Deaf Games can qualify for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan, which features competitors from all around the world.
Advancing to the Deaflympics, Cheslik said, is a major goal. But just getting to compete against deaf athletes again will be fulfilling.
Cheslik attended a school for the deaf in Idaho throughout childhood until he was 12, but he hasn't raced deaf runners or had consistent interaction with them in about six years. He recently connected with Lakewood High alum Amber Nash, a talented hurdler who placed second in the 400 hurdles at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. At the Pan Am Deaf Games, Cheslik will interact with dozens of peers who communicate the same way he does.
"I'm excited about that. I really want to do it. The communication will be so much better," Cheslik said through an interpreter, his mom, Debi Cheslik. Josiah's trip to Venezuela will be his first outside the U.S., other than a family trip to Tijuana, Mexico, when he was an infant.
Besides the social benefits, Cheslik's trip to the Pan Am Deaf Games will level the playing field. When he runs against athletes with normal hearing, Cheslik deals with some disadvantages.
First, at the starting line he sometimes gets a late jump unless the starter's gun is loud enough for him to feel the vibration. Otherwise, he waits for competitors to move. On the bright side, Cheslik's never been disqualified for starting early.
Another difficulty occurs when runners try to pass Cheslik. Unlike other athletes, who easily sense a runner coming from behind, Cheslik often has no clue. To counteract that problem, Cheslik learned to occasionally glance over his right shoulder - very quickly - to gauge where opponents are.
The deficiencies won't limit Cheslik in Venezuela, though. Besides, even against runners with normal hearing, Cheslik excels because of his potent blend of endurance and sprinting ability. And don't forget about his toughness.
"He has better foot speed than most of the kids out there," Chaffee said. "And he's just tough. He competes really well and he's just tough as nails."