Derick Adamson

Adamson studied at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. During his time there, he was a four-time all-conference runner, competing in the steeplechase and other long-distance running events. In 1980, during his sophomore year, he won the NCAA Division III steeplechase championship, and finished fourth in the Jamaican trials for the 1980 Olympics.[1][2][3] Whilst a student, Adamson set the Jamaican steeplechase national record, and competed at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games.[4]

Adamson qualified for the marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games, where he finished 52nd in a time of 2:25:02.[5][lower-alpha 2] Later in the year, he was scheduled to compete at the 1984 New York City Marathon, but withdrew before the start as the weather was too warm.[7] In the same year, he won the 1984 Philadelphia Marathon in a time of 2:16.39, a Jamaican national record in the event.[6][7][8] In 1985, Adamson won the event for a second consecutive year in a time of 2:18:27, 5 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of anyone else. After the race, Adamson said that he had hoped to have run a faster time, but was slowed down by the wind.[9][10] Adamson competed in the marathon at the 1988 Olympic Games, finishing 84th, and also ran the 10,000 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, where he finished ninth.[1][11]

Whilst a student, Adamson worked as a coach at Gloucester County College.[4] From 1983 to 1988, he was the men's head cross-country coach at Gloucester County College, and was also the women's head cross-country coach from 1991 to 1994.[3] He won the regional Coach of the Year award in 1985,[12] and won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In July 2014, Adamson became the first full-time Rowan coach for women's cross-country.[3]

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