EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange Campus High School junior Shakur Taylor won the boys 400-meter dash at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Group 4 indoor track and field state championships at the John Bennett Athletic Sports Bubble in Toms River on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Taylor was clocked in 49.58 seconds.
Senior Davion Clark was the other EOCHS competitor at the meet. Clark took 10th place in the boys high jump at 5 feet, 10 inches.
Taylor, who also was a standout football player for EOHS last fall, qualified for the NJSIAA’s Meet of Champions on Sunday, March 3, at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility on Staten Island, N.Y. Taylor is the first EOCHS indoor track athlete to win the 400 in a Group 4 state meet since current longtime EOCHS head track and field coach Lance Wigfall, who won as a senior in 2003.
The following is a Q&A with Taylor.
Q: What school do you attend?
A: Cicely Tyson
Q: What is your favorite subject?
A: Social Studies
Q: How was the journey for the 2023-24 indoor season leading to the group meet, after finishing a tough football season?
A: It was mentally challenging, considering the team as a whole didn’t have a great season and I was expected to lead it. The journey was worth it though. I found faith and learned valuable lessons about adversity. Rehab was a big component though. I had to learn to rest and recuperate after long practices, considering as soon as football was over, I was on the track in the following days.
Q: How do you manage being a double-sport student-athlete?
A: I just monitor a lot of what I do and what is convenient for me. I communicate with my coaches and mom, so they can help if they need to. And I have teammates like Tyler (Walker) and Tyrell (Walker), who are student-athletes, too, so we work together a lot.
Q: During the offseason, do you and head coach Lance Wigfall discuss the game plans for the season, and if so, how do those conversations go?
A: Actually, we don’t. We understand when it’s time to put in the work. We’re locked in and get it done. He respects me playing football when it’s football season and I respect that when it’s time for track, I give him my all in every workout/cooldown.
Q: What were your goals for the indoor season?
A: My goals were to move up in the national ranking in my class. I wanted to, of course, come back and win a state title and I knew the competition would be tough. I also fell short on a goal. So far, I wanted to go under 48 in the open 400. I’m currently working on that, as I haven’t used blocks yet. I believe I can do it. I just need to believe it.
Q: How does it feel to be the Group 4 state champion in the 400m? And did you know the last person to bring the 400m title to East Orange was your coach, Lance Wigfall?
A: It feels great I worked and prayed for this moment. It’s a full circle moment, knowing that I’m the first since (Wigfall) and that he is the guy coaching me now. All his words are coming to fruition now and trusting his process, along with God, is working. I’m also taking this moment to be humble, because there were days I prayed to get here and what I would do when I’m here, so now I’m trying to make that younger kid proud.
Q: How does it feel to have Coach Wigfall as your coach, knowing some of the things he did in high school? Does it feel like a ton of pressure on your back or does he make things simple for you and the team?
A: It feels great to have someone so similar to you be on your side. He teaches me valuable lessons, on/off the track, and has been with me through very tough stages in my life. We share a lot and I feel like I’m a continuation of his legacy, so there’s a lot of pressure. But with our relationship, it eases it a bit because we know greatness sometimes takes time.
Q: Who or what is your inspiration in life, in the sport of track and field, and what keeps you focused?
A: God is my biggest inspiration. I learn more and more from His word everyday. I’m humbled daily picking up my cross and blessed to be in the position I’m in right now. My inspiration, too, is my mom. Seeing everything she sacrificed and how strong she is drives me to make sure one day she won’t have to lift a finger.
Q: What was your proudest moment so far running track?
A: My proudest moment was racing after breaking my wrist. It was a moment that challenged my character and what I stood for. It taught me a lot about how things shouldn’t be taken for granted. Breaking it and then running the next day was a crazy experience and, looking back on it, I’m proud.
Q: What should we look forward to for the rest of this season? And have you started putting thought to what your goals will look like for outdoor season?
A: I believe you guys should look forward to me being consistent and working to drop nationally-ranked times. My goals are to stay healthy and motivated at all times. Also I look forward to my guy, (EOCHS junior) Jordaine Johnson. He’s a sleeper right now, but soon the name is gonna ring bells. If I’m not mistaken, he should make the 200m showcase at MOC.
Q: Going into the Meet Of Champions with the fastest qualifying time and knowing that Jaden Marchan of Leonia HS has the fastest time in the state in the 400m, do you think there will be any major adjustments to the game plan on March 3 at the Meet Of Champs at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island, N.Y.?
A: Honestly, I’m going to worry about that when I get there. I respect his running style and I’m looking forward to the competition, but I like to take things one step at a time.
Q: What is something people do not know about you that you would like to share? Like a fun fact about Shakur Taylor?
A: I coached on my city’s youth track and football teams. Also I’m a twitch streamer. I stream various games like Fortnite, Dear By Daylight, and Madden. My twitch is dukez_wrld.
Wigfall is proud of Taylor and the rest of his athletes for their dedication.
“Before the indoor season started, my goal was in ensure that the team/athletes were not tired or banged up when it was time to show up and show out with the understanding that it’s not about how much you do, but how far you willing to give of yourself to get the desired outcome when it matters most,” Wigfall said. “So throughout the season I kept the words of (actor) Dwayne Johnson in the back of my head, ‘Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.’
“And that is one thing I have been trying to teach the athletes here at East Orange. Consistency breeds greatness where we may be far from reaching the overall team goal, but Rome was not built in a day. And as success continues to be contagious on the team, we’ve been taking every individual effort in stride one moment at a time. With that being said, I am very proud of Shakur Taylor and how he maintains his poise as he tries to always lead the team through his actions and his words of encouragement. There is a lot more room to become better, but for right now, we will take success one step at a time.”
Photo Courtesy of Lance Wigfall
East Orange Campus HS indoor track standout Shakur Taylor runs to Group 4 state title added by Editor on
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