By Jim Fenton, Staff Writer
January 23, 2012
Worcester, MA --- After a successful finish his freshman track season last spring, Terrence Gibson of Rockland is picking up where he left off this winter.
The Worcester State University sophomore was named Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference track athlete of the week after winning a pair of events and helping to set a relay record at the Wheaton Invitational.
Gibson, a three-sport Enterprise All-Scholastic when he was at Rockland High School, won the 60-meter dash in 7.02 seconds and the long jump (21-6). He was also on the 4x200 relay team that finished third and set the Worcester State record of 1:31.93.
Earlier this season, Gibson broke the 12-year-old school mark in the 60-meter dash in 6.94 seconds at the Alden Invitational held at Brown University. Gibson finished second to John Spooney of Brown.
Last spring, Gibson wound up the outdoor season by winning the 200 meters 22.02 seconds at the MASCAC Championships and earned All-New England honors by placing seventh in the 200 in 22.47 seconds.
Gibson, who played football and basketball in addition to competing in track at Rockland High, has been plagued by a hamstring ailment during his time at Worcester State, but when healthy, he is among the best in the conference.
"It's scary to think what he could do if he was 100 percent," said Lancers coach Al Halper. "He's having a stellar year so far. We treat him a little bit with kid gloves because, unfortunately, he has a hamstring issue, so we have to be very careful what he does and doesn't do.
"He's involved in strength training to make it stronger and has to rehab it almost every meet. It's been an ongoing problem since high school really, and he had problems last year. He wasn't able to do everything he needed to do last year, but he was still our best 200-meter guy.
"When he's capable of running and not having to deal with any injury issues he's really strong."
Gibson's record-setting run at Brown last month ranks him fourth nationally in Division III in the 60-meter dash as well as first in New England and second in the ECAC Division III standings. He is also third in Division III New England in the long jump.
"He's a good solid athlete," said Halper. "I think he's got the potential to be one of the top Division III guy's in the 60-indoors in the country.
"He has the potential to place at the NCAA Division III meet. That's our goal for him either by himself or on the relay team."
Gibson will likely take part in the hurdles and compete in the triple jump before the MASCAC and Alliance Championships take place at Southern Maine on February 9.