By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
28 Oct. – – Veteran track & field coaches Tom Kenwood, of Cumberland, and Barrington’s Bob Gourley were formally inducted Wednesday into the R.I. Interscholastic League’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The honor is the most prestigious that can be bestowed upon those who coach, administer, officiate, report on, and compete in, RIIL-sponsored athletics. The induction ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.
A career of dedication
Tom Kenwood has been the boys’ cross country coach at Cumberland High for the past 20 years, and track coach there since 1974. Compiling more than 600 wins over the span of four decades, Kenwood piloted his squads to 40 divisional, four class and two state championships. (Indoor track in ’78, and cross country in ’04.) A past president of the R.I. Track coaches Association (RITCA), Kenwood has been named the organization’s Coach of the Year numerous times. He’s a member of the RITCA, R.I. College and Cumberland High Halls of Fame.
“Tom Kenwood is a treasure to R.I. cross country and track,’’ said veteran Chariho track and cross country coach Bill Habarek. “He has held every leadership position for the RICA. He’s helped many young coaches, and his former athletes are now coaching on the high school level.’’
A graduate of Pawtucket’s Tolman High, Kenwood ran track and cross country at the school. At R.I. College, he continued his association with cross country competition. He also served as head of men’s and women’s cross country at CCRI for ten years, leading his 1983 team to the national JUCO Region XXI title.
“His ability as a coach is represented in the consistency to have competitive teams year after year,’’ said former Clipper great Jerry Bonner, who starred in cross country and track in the late 1990s. (Bonner was state harrier champ in ’98.) “What impressed me about Coach Kenwood was his dedication to his athletes. I know he had an impact on a lot of athletes throughout his career, and I’m happy to see him get this recognition.’’
Mr. “Hammer Man’’
Over the decades, Bob Gourley has become synonymous with the hammer and indoor weight throw events. He started coaching the hammer at Barrington High in 1983, and expanded his coaching to include all throwing events for boys and girls. His athletes have gone on to become national and junior National prep champions in the hammer and weight. A 1960 Hope High graduate, he was on the Blue Wave indoor and outdoor track squads. His athletes have won a total eight U.S. titles and five R.I. state championships.
“Bob has a passion for throwing events,’’ said Barrington Athletic Director George Finn. “His dedication to each student/athlete, regardless of level of skill, is the strength of his character.’’
The past indoor track season, Gourley was honored as Coach of the Year by the RITCA – the first time an assistant coach has been so named. He has organized numerous clinics for the hammer and weight throws, one featuring world men’s hammer record-holder Iouri Sedykh, of Russia. He organized the now-annual “Hammer-rama’’event (and the “Weight-a-rama’’ indoors), drawing male and female athletes from around the country. He’s a Master Level USATF official. Gourley’s weekly rankings of weight and hammer throwers is the main source of this information in the United States.
Princeton freshman Adam Kelly, a prep All-American in the weight and hammer events last year while a Barrington High senior (and the U.S. weight throw champion), said of Gourley: “While his technical expertise and overall understanding of the throws is top-notch, he also has such an energy and love for the sport that it’s easily contacted by his athletes.’’
“Bob is an amazing coach,’’ Habarek said. “Last year alone he had the top two throwers in the U.S. He has opened the door to a college education for many of these young men and women.’’
Course/Oval Note: RIIL Hall of Fame members from track and cross country, and their induction class year:
Laura Turner O’Hara (Athlete, Portsmouth High, 2013); Tim Walker (Athlete, Rogers High, 2011); Bobby Doyle (Athlete, Hope High; marathoner, coach, 2012); Thom Spann (Coach, Hope High, 2008); Ray Dwyer (Coach, official, 2003); Charlie Ajootian (Athlete, Classical High, 2009); Charles Sweeney (Official/coach/athlete, 2010); Tolu Fayanjuola (Athlete, Classical High, 2014); Leah Grant (Athlete, Hope High, 2014); Joyce Harvey (Coach, So. Kingstown, 2006); Anne (Sullivan) Hird(Athlete, Bay View, 2006); Pam Hughes (Athlete, Hope High, 2004); Kevin Jackson (Coach, Pilgrim/R.I. College, 2012); Theresa Moore (Athlete, E. Providence High, 2007); Al Morro (Coach, Classical High, 2005); Marilyn Picerelli (Athlete, E. Prov. High, 2011); Emily (Selvidio) Scharsu (Athlete, Westerly High, 2011); Christina Batastini (Athlete, Classical High, 2009).