USIU Is Proving Its Progress by Qualifying 9 for NCAA Meet

SAN DIEGO —  Yvonne Cartwright, one of nine athletes who will represent United States International University at the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I track and field meet this week, remembers being besieged with letters from Coach Elliot Kramsky.

“I was getting a letter every other day,” said Cartwright, from Madison High. “Finally, my mom had me keep everything in this big bag.”

Kramsky’s efforts have paid off. His recruiting of athletes such as Cartwright was part of the third-year coach’s overall effort to turn around the track program at USIU. He has succeeded, so much so that USIU may have the best track teams in its 34-year history.

The USIU 9--five freshmen and four sophomores--in Indianapolis this week are making some history. Never before has USIU had an athlete at the national meet, which makes this season ample proof that Kramsky can recruit. How did he do it?

“I had to go get kids with potential, that weren’t getting recruited,” said Kramsky. “When you’re at a school without a reputation, you’re not going to get the state champions. There is one state champion and maybe 50 kids (finishing) after her.”

Joining Cartwright at the Division I meet are: freshmen Vicki Williams and Miriam White, both from Southwest High; Teresa Curris from Pittsburg, Calif.; Mina Hutchins from San Jose, Gina Jauregui from Newark, Calif., sophomores Cheryl Henderson from Fountain Valley, Missy Levine from Minnetonka, Minn., and Sheila McClain from Racine, Wis.

“The girls are growing up and deciding what they want to get out of track,” Kramsky said. “There’s a big difference being 16 and being 19.”

White has improved her time in the 800 meters from 2:16 in high school to her current 2:10. Kramsky said her potential in the event is 2:06.

“If she ran that well in high school in the 800, she would be at UCLA right now,” Kramsky said. “That’s part of seeing potential.”

Said Williams, who was all-county in basketball and all-league in volleyball at Southwest: “I’m finally concentrating on one sport. I didn’t start applying myself in track until my senior year. Before that, I just came out and ran.”

Kramsky said he spends as much as 75% of his time recruiting. When he can’t coach the team, he leaves matters in the hands of assistants Nancy Brigham and Willie White, who is Miriam’s White’s father.

Kramsky said the competition at the nationals will be tough for the young USIU team, but added that the team goal already has been met by qualifying for the NCAA meet.

“Once you are there, you can see what it’s like,” he said. “But on the second trip, just getting there isn’t enough.”