Recently we had a chance to speak with Monmouth Indoor Track & Field standout Dexter Contee. The Hawks, led by Contee, finished in second place at the 2002 NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships, 20 points behind champion St. Francis (PA). The Prince Frederick, MD native captured the 200-meter title with a time of 22.01. The senior kicked off the 2002-03 season by placing second in the 55-meter dash at the Princeton Invitational on December 7 with a time of 6.57.  At the Cornell Open this past weekend, Contee won the 200 meters in 22.59, placed third in the 60-meter dash and was a member of the second place 4x400 relay team. Off to a flying start, the Hawks will attempt to dethrone St. Francis (PA) at the 2003 NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Landover, MD on February 15-16.

Name: Dexter Contee
School: Monmouth
Sport: Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Year: Senior

Hometown: Prince Frederick, Maryland
High school: Calvert
Major: Finance
Notable Award: 200-meter individual champion  (2002 NEC Championships)

Favorite TV show: Sports Center
Favorite Movie: GoodFellas
Favorite Music: Hip Hop
Hobbies: Chess

NEC: Why did you choose to come to Monmouth?
DC: I liked the idea of going to a small school with a good (athletic) conference. I like the atmosphere here; there are nice people and good class sizes.

NEC: What career do you wish to pursue after graduation?
DC: I want to be a financial advisor.

NEC:  How did it feel to become the individual champion in the 200 meters at last year’s championship?
DC: It felt good to be there. I owe a lot of gratitude to the great coaches who always believed in me.

NEC: With this being your last season, what are your goals?
DC: Our number one goal is to win the NEC Championship. After that I will focus on my personal goal: to be the best I can be at all my events.

NEC: You have been close for the last three years, but what will it take for Monmouth to become NEC champs this year?
DC: To get to the next level it will have to be a collaborative team effort. All around we are solid, but we have keep working hard to be okay.

NEC: Who is your biggest competition at the Championships this year?
DC: Everybody. There are always surprises at any level of competition. 

NEC: What motivational tactics do you use for yourself and the team?
DC: We have team meetings. We hang out as a team, but also when we aren’t on the track we are friends. For myself, I try to stay focused and use my god given talents to the best of my ability.

NEC: What is your role on the team?
DC: I try to be a team leader. I want to set an example for the underclassmen, so they can be an impact in the years to come.

NEC: Which teams do you look forward to competing against this year and why?
DC: I look forward to competing against everyone. All the teams have great sprinters, so I am ready against all of them. You never know who will surprise you. Even you yourself can be your worst enemy in this sport.

NEC: What event do you enjoy competing in the most?
DC: I really enjoy the 200 meters. It shows my strengths and my ability to show speed. I just love the race.

NEC: Where is your favorite place to compete?
DC: My favorite place is the New York City Armory. It is a fast track. You can definitely make a statement there.  

NEC: Where is the toughest place to compete?
DC: The Manhattan track is by far the worst.

NEC: How long have you been participating in track & field?
DC: I started running when I was a junior in high school.

NEC: How did you get started?
DC: I played basketball in high school and I was fast and athletic. I started running and I was beating people that ran for years.  

NEC: Who are some people that have influenced you the most?
DC: My basketball coach in high school was a big influence. If it weren’t for him suggesting to my parents that I run then I probably wouldn’t be running today.

NEC: As your collegiate career comes to an end, what have you learned from competing in track & field?
DC: I realized that there will be pain in life and it’s all about how you mentally deal with it. I learned that how a person rises up from pressure is the true test. 

NEC: What’s the most important attribute a track & field athlete needs?
DC: The # 1 attribute is desire. You also need to be able to realize your ability and have a high pain tolerance to endure tough workouts.    

NEC: What is the most memorable moment in your athletic career?
DC: My most memorable moment was in high school at a conference meet my junior year. I never really trained and I did great. It was after this meet that I realized I wanted to run in college. 

- Interview conducted by Dawn Van Cleef, NEC Administrative Intern