Profile: Ebube Abara

(6/21/09)-There are few athletes in Shaker history who have impacted a sports team as much as Ebube Abara has done in his two years at the High School. His easygoing manner and amazing talent have made him a popular leader and role model, despite his short time at Shaker. Over the last two years, he has a long list of accomplishments that were key factors in helping the Shaker Indoor and the Shaker Outdoor Track & Field teams win their first Sectional titles in decades. As a junior last year, he set a school Indoor record in the 300M and 11th grade records in the 55M Hurdles and the 400M. A couple of months later in the outdoor season he tied a 37-year old school record in the 200M. During his senior year, he added to the impressive list with a new school record in the 110M Hurdles and the second fastest time in Shaker history in the 400M Hurdles outdoors. He is a member of the school record indoor 4x400M relay team and also the school record outdoor 4x200M relay team and the school record 4x400M relay team. He qualified in two individual events and as a member of the 1600 relay team for the New York State meet earlier this month. Ebube was named as MVP of the undefeated Outdoor Track & Field team in recognition of his outstanding performances and unselfish commitment to the team. Ebube Abara also received the Shaker High School Boys Best All-Around Athlete Award (see video). He has also announced that he will be attending the University at Albany next year and run Indoor and Outdoor track. Shakerrunning recently interviewed Ebube.

Shakerrunning.com Interview with Senior Ebube Abara 6/21/09:

Shakerrunning (SR): How did you end up at Shaker High School at the beginning of your junior year?
Ebube Abara (EA): I ended up at Shaker High School at the beginning of my junior year because my Dad found a better job up here at Seton Health St. Mary's Hospital in Troy. I was originally supposed to go to Shen, but my Dad heard from some colleagues that Shaker High School had better academics and student-to-teacher ratio and the sports teams were just as competitive. That was a huge deciding factor along with the fact that getting a place in Latham would be closer to his work than living in Halfmoon or Clifton Park. I am very happy that I came to Shaker.

SR: Please tell us a little about your early years of competitive running.
EA: Growing up through elementary school, I mostly played soccer and basketball, with soccer being my favorite sport. I only started running track during the summer for the Hershey's Track Meet after my Aunt signed me up because she thought I was fast. I stepped on the track and haven't looked back since.

SR: What is your favorite distance to race?
EA: My favorite distance to race would probably have to be 400 meters, because it’s not too short and not too long. You also have room for error, if you don't get out hard enough you can still catch up unlike the 100m dash.

SR: You are both a sprinter and a hurdler – compare the two.
EA: Being a Sprinter consists of basically just sticking to one game plan. Depending on what distance you’re running from 100m-400m you can have a set strategy. You can choose to get out real hard and hold on, get out slower but speed up towards the end, or just go at an even pace. Hurdling is a little bit more technical. Depending on whether you’re running the 110HH or 400IH you'll have to know how many steps you take between each hurdle, which leg you go over with, and so on. Honestly, I think that Sprinting is the building block to the hurdles. If you've got decent speed and work on your hurdle technique, you'll do some damage. If you don't have speed, it’s going to be hard competing at top levels regardless of how great your technique is.

SR: Do you have a favorite indoor or outdoor track on which you like to run?
EA: My favorite indoor track to run on by far would have to be at the Armory. Come on, how can it get any better? A banked track that's elevated!!! Now that's a dream track. As for outdoor, I really don't have a favorite track because most of the outdoor tracks I ran on were of decent to excellent quality.

SR: You’ve also played on Shaker’s varsity soccer team the last two years – how do you compare the two sports?
EB: I would say that Soccer and Track are both great sports that will really get you in great shape. What I loved about Soccer is that a lot of it is running, whether you’re running with the ball or without the ball, trying to find space and keeping yourself open for a pass. Soccer is very team oriented and doesn't move much from that. While track is both team oriented and individual at the same time. You run to get a new personal best while at the same time aiming to finish as high as you can to get points for your team. All in All soccer and track are two sports that can really go hand in hand.

SR: How do you like to spend your time when you’re not involved in sports?
EA: When I'm not involved in sports I like to hangout with family and friends and have a good time. I enjoy playing video games such as FIFA 09, COD4, NBA 2K9 on my 80gb PS3 when there’s absolutely nothing to do. It may even come as a surprise to you, but I also like to read books occasionally. (P.S. If anyone thinks they can beat me in FIFA, my PSN is CFIFTIE)

SR: Please tell us what events you think you will run at UAlbany over the next four years.
EA: At UAlbany, I think that I will be running the 400 and 400IH hurdles over the next four years. Maybe even the 200m dash if I can. Honestly, I won't mind running in whatever events the coaches feel that I would excel, even if it means running 800's!!! Besides, they need a new Joe Greene and I’m up for the challenge.

SR: Please tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn.
EA: One thing about me that people would be surprised to learn is that I lived in Iowa, and on top of that, I loved it there! A lot of people think that Iowa is all farms and animals but it’s not. There’s a lot more to it than that.

SR: What advice would you give to young runners?
EA: My advice that I would give to young runners is to never give up and have fun. There may be kids who are faster than you, can jump farther and higher than you, or can even throw the shot and disc farther than you, but don't be discouraged. The thing about Track is that you'll get results if you put in the hard work and effort no matter what your level. "Hard Work beats Talent when Talent fails to Work Hard", that’s my motto. There will be kids who start off real well but don't put in the work, and then other less talented kids who work hard to get better and eventually surpass that kid. So keep working and don't give up, but the most important thing is to have fun; because if you're doing something that you enjoy you won't lose the passion for it and you'll put in your absolute best no matter how hard the work is. Just have fun, work hard and run!!!!!