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Congratulations to Jesse Owens Essay Contest Winners Harvey Ng of Stuyvesant HS and Eliza Paradise of Hunter College HS!

Published by
ArmoryTrack.org   Feb 3rd 2016, 10:29pm
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Congratulations to Harvey Ng of Stuyvesant HS and Eliza Pardise of Hunter College HS for winning our Jesse Owens photo contest! The contest required student-athletes to place themselves in the stands of the 1936 Olympics as a sports journalist writing about the accomplishments of Jesse Owens. For their winning essays, Harvey and Eliza earned two VIP tickets to the NYRR Millrose Games, $100 gift certificates from the New Balance Store and trips for their track teams to see a special screening of ‘Race,' a new film about Owens.

Harvey's Essay

“On your marks!” the official yelled. The entire stadium fell silent, but everyone could feel the electric feeling of suspense buzzing through the air. “Set.” I held my breath along with the four million other spectators. The sprinters in the 100m final got into position, but everyone came to see only one person—Jesse Owens. BANG! The gun went off, and the crowd roared like thunder. I quickly adjusted my camera and set it on Owens. You only get one chance to capture a picture of lightning. He bolted from the start, taking the lead. The crowd roared louder, and I cheered at the top of my lungs. Owens continued to stretch away from everyone, establishing his dominance and showcasing his efficient stride. I pressed my camera as he broke the tape at the finish. “OWENS WINS IN 10.3!” the announcer exclaimed, and the stadium erupted into cheers even louder than before. Owens flashed a bright smile and stood onto the podium. The Star-Spangled Banner filled every corner of the stadium. But that would not be the last time I saw his smile or hear our national anthem in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

However, Owens was in trouble the next day. Beads of sweat dripped down my forehead as I watched him foul both his first and second jumps in the qualification round for the long jump final. Owens had a brief talk with his German rival, Luz Long, who pointed at the take-off board on the runway. What was he telling him to do? Was he planning to somehow make him foul a third time and disqualify him? When he stepped up to the runway, the crowd began to quietly chant, “USA, USA.” The crowd got increasingly louder, and he sprinted to the sand pit. He took off a foot behind the take-off board. I held my breath. Was he going to make it? And surely, he landed safely and qualified for the final in his last jump. That evening, he smiled once again as he stood on the podium after winning the gold medal in the long jump, jumping 8.06 meters. Luz Long finished in second, and they walked around together around the track after the ceremony. In my interview with Owens later that evening, he told me, “I couldn’t have won without the advice from Luz. He told me to take off from behind the board so I wouldn’t foul again. And I did exactly that.”                  

Owens went on to win gold in the 200m in 20.7 seconds, and he ran the lead-off leg of the USA’s 4x100m team to propel them to victory, leaving him with four gold medals. However, Owens’ legacy was not only his four gold medals. He shattered Hitler and the Nazis’ idea of an Aryan race that was superior to Africans and other races. He ran and jumped bravely, showcasing the strength and freedom of the USA, and letting the entire world know that he, Jesse Owens, was not afraid. 

 

Eliza's Essay

Berlin, 1936. As the runners take their marks for the finals of the 100-meter dash, the energy in the crowd is indescribable. Everyone is overwhelmed with anticipation, with the feeling that something truly remarkable is about to take place. In the time before the gun goes off, it seems as though every single person in the stands is holding their breath, everything silent besides the commentator announcing the runners.

The competitors are all extremely impressive, including the World’s Fastest Human of 1935, Ralph Metcalfe. However, one runner stands out from the rest, a man who has had to overcome countless obstacles in order to stand on the start line. This man is Jesse Owens, who just last year set three world records competing for Ohio State University at the Western Conference Outdoor Track and Field Meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to these, he tied the world record for the 100-meter dash, making this an especially important event for him. Before he is called to the line, he jogs back and forth a couple of paces, a look of intense concentration plastered across his face.

Surrounded by athletes who all seem to mirror those depicted in German posters, Owens stands out from everyone else, his dark skin separating him, marking him as “different”. He will run this event weighed down with the burdens of imposed mentalities that he is inferior to others do to the color of his skin. A victory for him would not be merely that, but something greater, allowing him to push past years of abuses and inequalities. However, a loss also would hold greater weight, serving for many as confirmation of the supposed inferiority of other races.

As the runners take their marks at the start line, Owens wears a look of fierce determination, his mouth set in a hard line, eyes slightly squinted. Although he already has won his three previous heats, Owens does not look fatigued. As a matter of fact, he looks at peace, possessing the air of a man who is in his element, doing something he is not only exceptionally talented at, but also that he loves.

The gun goes off, and the noise serves as a catalyst for the six men on the start line, their reactions instantaneous as they burst forward. While they are initially one indistinguishable mass of pumping arms and speeding legs, they begin to separate and fall into distinct positions. Owens moves up immediately, rapidly overtaking his opponents as he speeds towards the finish line and the gold medal. As he crosses the line, the crowd is astonished. Americans erupt into deafening chants as the American national anthem blasts throughout the arena. After winning the gold medal, Owens smiles widely and yet somewhat modestly, nodding slightly to acknowledge the cheers in the crowd. His performance today undoubtedly shows that Jesse Owens will be a name to remember in years to come as he continues to distinguish himself as one of the world’s greatest athletes. 

 

 



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