THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130284
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
AT ABOUT 5:30 each morning Reuben Clarke III staggers out of bed and begins his two-mile run through the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake. He'll start slow, thinking about his upcoming work that day as a probation/parole counselor at Suffolk's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Then Clarke spots other joggers and his face lights up. He zips past a fellow jogger and smiles at him thinking, ``Out of my way.'' Clarke gradually speeds up, passing more runners as he sprints to the finish line - his front porch.
``I just reminisce and think about how it used to be,'' Clarke said. ``In my area, a lot of people run and sometimes I'll pass a few of them and it gives you a felling like, ``Gosh, I remember those days.''
The days Clarke remembers are of an exceptional track career at Norfolk's Norview High and Virginia State University; a career in which he was an All-American, and was named All-CIAA Cross Country and All-National Athletic Intercollegiate Association four straight years. His accomplishments earned him an induction into the Virginia State Hall of Fame in June.
``Initially, I didn't get the real understanding of it,'' Clarke said of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. ``I was excited about being presented an award, but when I finally arrived at the event, I saw the magnitude of it.''
The other inductees added to the event's magnitude, said Clarke.
``We had a dozen inductees and a couple of them were in their 60s and 70s and went to school back in the '40s,'' said Clarke, who was this year's youngest inductee. ``It was exciting to have a lot of the inductees who were vice presidents of banks and people handling $150 million accounts, so it was a prestigious event.''
The honor also is impressive considering Clarke's first year of cross country came as a senior at Norview High School in Norfolk after playing three years of basketball.
``My playing time was limited. It was three unproductive years (of basketball),'' laughed Clarke. ``Some of the guys had been telling me I should come out (for cross country) and try it because generally during basketball practice we had to run long distances for endurance. I would just leave the rest of the guys.''
The desire to go to college made Clarke start running cross country.
``I was actually just exploring opportunities to find a way to get in college because at the time scholarship offers were limited,'' Clarke said.
After Clarke began cross country, it didn't take long before the offers started rolling in.
Clarke finished undefeated in the regular season, placed second in regionals and earned an invitation to the state meet. His senior year ended with Clarke being named most outstanding athlete of the year for cross country by the Norfolk Sports Club.
After receiving more than 100 offers from Division I and Division II schools, Clarke decided to attend Virginia State.
Said Clarke: ``When I went there, they treated me so well and I didn't really want to go too far from home.''
Virginia State track coach William Bennett said seeing the state meet persuaded him to offer Clarke a scholarship.
``We really needed a distance man,'' Bennett said. ``He looked like with the proper training he could be great.''
The state track meet was only the beginning. Bennett said Clarke continued to work to get better.
``He did over and above what I expected after seeing that state meet,'' Bennett said. ``He had great work habits and was self-motivated. I was concerned the way he pushed himself when he prepared for a meet, he wanted so much to succeed.''
Clarke said he didn't gain all his success alone.
``For a lot of things you can say, `What I did, what I did, what I did,' '' he said. ``But I think it's important to always identify the ones whose shoulders you had to stand on. I don't believe that anyone in life can go through and say that they've accomplished everything on their own.''
Clarke said many times he counted on his parents for support.
``There were times in college that I wanted to quit (to get a job),'' he said. ``My dad would tell me I was on a full scholarship and ask why I would do something like that. He said, `You can come home, but don't come home without your degree.' ''
Clarke tries to do the same for the kids that come through his office for help.
``This job is a way for me to assist and help them,'' he said. ``Maybe I can help the kids understand that there's a better way than violence.''
That's one reason you'll find Clarke's hall of fame plaque posted proudly behind his desk at work.
``I had it at home and it wasn't serving any great magnitude,'' Clarke said. ``The kids here see that and might say, `I could try. Let me try.' ''
Clarke has translated his ability to motivate himself on the track into helping Suffolk youths get motivated. And although he also traded his sweat suit and tennis shoes for a tie and shiny loafers, he still straps on tennis shoes early each morning and thinks of breaking the tape at the finish line.
Watch out if you jog in Chesapeake. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Every morning at 5:30, Reuben Clarke jogs two miles before going to
work.
by CNB