KUTZTOWN, PA (May 8, 2010) – If they kept Guinness records for the world's fastest wardrobe change, recent Kutztown University graduate Samirah Barczynski would easily own that distinguished mark. Not even Beyonce switches clothes during her concerts at the rate of speed that Barczynski displayed Saturday afternoon. (PHOTO GALLERY) / (COMPLETE MEET RESULTS)
Dressing faster than Clark Kent's alter-ego, Barczynski finished a memorable, but hectic day by competing for the final time on the sacred University Field oval in the 100-meter dash of the Kutztown Last Chance Meet. She quickly changed out of her white dress and stylish shoes and into her maroon-and-white track uniform.
Once she departed the ladies room and headed to the track with a black T-shirt adorned with yellow writing on the back of it over her track uniform, she had her dress neatly folded over her arm and shoes in her hands.
Participating in the afternoon graduation ceremony in which she earned her degree in speech communication, Barczynski didn't have much time following commencement exercises to chill with family or friends since the meet started less than 90 minutes after the gaggle of happy and excited graduates turned the front of Keystone Hall into a mass of maroon-and-gold humanity.
“I knew I had to pack for the meet before I got ready for graduation because I knew I as soon as the graduation ended and I said bye to my family, I would have to hustle to the track,” Barczynski said. “We went to my apartment and took pictures and then I came running over here in my dress. I went into the bathroom to change. The floor was wet and I was trying not to my dress wet, but I was excited to run.”
Barczynski finished fourth overall in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.43 seconds. Being able to run was a victory in itself. Barczynski's senior year has not gone the way she would have envisioned two years ago when she finished fifth in the 55-meter dash at the PSAC Indoor championships and fifth in the 100-meter dash at PSAC Outdoor championships.
The track season has been hard for her because she's been bothered by strains, sprains, aches and pains. But despite all of the discomfort and frustration, Barczynski has continued to work hard, encourage the young runners and display leadership qualities.
“It's hard not being considered one of the top runners anymore and taking a seat back but I knew I had to stay positive for all of the underclassmen,” Barczynski said. “I wanted to continue to be role model. Today was really hard especially knowing that this was most likely my race.”
Barczynski will go to next weekend's PSAC championship meet as an alternate, so she could get onto the track for a final sprint. However, even if she doesn't run, Barczynski has succeeded by earning her degree, creating a lifetime of memories on and off the track, and overcoming obstacles.
She will depart Kutztown with the fourth fastest time in program history in the 100-meter dash (12.49), trailing Hall of Famer Monique Bosley-Brooks (12.24), Katie Quinn (12.26) and Rasheedah Murphy (12.44).
“She's been a real solid member of our program,” Kutztown head track and field coach Ray Hoffman said. “Even with her being banged up; she's done a great job of being positive and being a big supporter of the younger girls and showing them the way whether it's in the weight room, on the track or stretching.”
Midway through the meet, Barczynski along with Lynn Lisofsky, Steph Grimm, Maureen Watson, Jessica Schlecter, Lauren Ayars and Cristina Reimer all received very nice framed photos from the underclassmen at midfield on the large KU-logo at the 50-yard line. As the seniors received their gifts of appreciation, their faces lit up like Christmas trees. Everybody but Reimer graduated earlier in the day.
Barczynski credits being a student-athlete with helping her remain focused and disciplined in the classroom.
“I came in as a freshman as a walk on because I didn't know what I wanted to do, Barczynski said. “It was rough for me to manage my time with school and track but it helped me to stay on top of my books. I feel like if I wasn't a student-athlete, I wouldn't be as focused on academics as people should be when they're in school.”
Barczynski is looking forward to beginning the next chapter of her life. She plans to head back to school and get her master's degree in speech pathology. With one more meet to cheer on her teammates and possibly run, Barczynski will focus on that before entering the real world and begin the fun task of interviewing for jobs.
Sometimes a career isn't solely defined by records, numbers and highlights. A person's character, perseverance, work-ethic and humility ultimately makes one a winner in life. It is with these traits displayed by Barczynski, which has earned a gold medal. She has overcome plenty to enjoy a special afternoon she will never forget.
“Today was hectic,” Barczynski said. “As soon I got to the track, I treated it like it was any other meet and put everything else out of my mind. It didn't hit me that I was graduating until we were walking into the field house and all of my professors were standing on the side and clapping. I learned that things come at you and that you need to focus on what's going on in that particular moment in time or you're not going to succeed.”
--KU--
