She's Quiet, Powerful and Deadly
“Determined and gutsy are just two of the words that best describe Farquharson, who is always focused before every race,” says a March 2009 quote in the Jamaica ‘Star’ newspaper about Sandrae Farquharson, the former top athlete of Manchester High School in Jamaica, who now runs for Medgar Evers College Prep High School in Brooklyn, New York.
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DPalmer/TrackLife photo
Farquharson leads in the
4x4 at 2011 Millrose Games
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As a student athlete at Manchester, Sandrae ran a personal record (PR) 53.76secs for the 400m while representing Jamaica at the 37th CARIFTA Games in Basseterre, St. Kitts in 2008. That was before she sustained injuries that put her young athletic career on hold.
Three years later, on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, the 17-yr-old ran a PR 38.19secs for the 300m at the 2011 PSAL (Public Schools Athletic League) City Championship in New York, the fastest time in the U.S. this year.
Sandrae’s New York story began when her mother, who immigrated to New York recently, realized that Sandrae had one year of eligibility to showcase her enormous talent in high school track, and wanted “more than anything else” for her to complete the bright and promising track career that was cut short by injury. Having researched schools in New York City where her super talented daughter could pick up where she left off at Manchester High before the injury, Mom decided to enroll Sandrae into Medgar Evers, and Sandrae became a Lady Cougar.
Fans of the sport have been abuzz since the first time Sandrae set foot on the track in her new hometown. And whenever she lines up to compete, the aura in the arena (The NYC Armory) would suddenly become electric as the noise and excitement level rises to a crescendo.
Here are some of the highlights of what Sandrae has accomplished since she began running in New York just a little over 12 weeks ago:
• Anchored Medgar Evers (Lady Cougars) to their first ever Millrose Championship in the High School Girls (HSG) 4x4 relays.
• Led the Lady Cougars to their present US # 1 ranking in HSG 4x4 (3:44.66), and 2nd fastest in New York State of all times.
• Ran a split of 23.7 for the second leg of Medgar Evers' 4x2 relay team that set the present New York State record (1:37.73). .
Medgar’s Coach Shaun Dietz has said that he was not surprised that Sandrae and her parent chose his track team, and he is eternally grateful to have her on it. He further noted that Sandrae’s overall demeanor is that of a Cougar: quiet, powerful and deadly, which truly depicts Medgar Ever’s track and field team’s nickname, the “Lady Cougars.” According to Dietz, “Sandrae’s leadership, dedication and no-nonsense approach to training not only add dept to our track team, but also elevate the work ethics of her teammates.”
Anyone who spends time around Sandrae will come away with a sense that she is a confident, conscientious very intelligent young lady. This fact was highlighted in a published interview earlier in which she answered to the questions, “Do you plan to pursue a career in track?” and “In what ways do you think being involved in sports has benefitted you?”
“Not really,” was her response to the first question. “I am interested in pursing a career in Accounting or social work.”
To the second, Sandrae said, “being in sports has benefited my personal approach to life, physically and socially in the following ways: valuing preparation, time management, long-term thinking, attitude, self control and teamwork. Physically it also has benefitted my fitness levels, stress reduction ability and technical mastery and I have acquired healthy habits. I now know that talent alone will only get you so far, but to be really successful at anything – not only track – it takes dedication and hard work.”