By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
Ivan Suazo, a senior at Westland High School, recently competed against 47 of the best hurdlers in the country at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Track and Field Competition in New York City. The multi-sport athlete tied for first place in his division with a time of 8.02 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles event. Now that the indoor season is over and the outdoor has commenced, Suazo says his focus is on breaking the school’s long-held record in the 300 meter hurdles, making it to Nationals in North Carolina, and shoring up a college scholarship.
When Ivan Suazo joined the track and field team at Norton Middle School, head coach Ben Rutan did not hold much expectation for the transplant from New York.
“Ivan was this gangly, goofy kid who had no intention to be any good,” he said. “It is my belief that he only joined the track team so he could hang out with his friends.”
Rutan said that though he knew Suazo was naturally talented, it was more of a matter of making him believe that he could excel if only he applied himself to the sport.
As a challenge, he asked Suazo to try the hurdles. Suazo accepted the challenge and discovered it was not to his liking.
“I was not good,” Suazo said with a laugh.
Suazo said the constant clipping of hurdles and slow finish times did not instill much confidence, so he took a break from that event to focus on the ones he was better at.
But his self-imposed exile from the hurdles came to an end in the eighth grade at a district tournament.
As the third person on the roster in that event, Suazo did not expect to have to compete, but an injury to one of his teammates forced his hand.
During the warmups, Suazo asked Rutan if it would be OK if he tried three-steps rather than four-steps. Figuring that they had nothing to lose, Rutan agreed to the step switch and watched as Suazo did a practice run of three-steps and then got on the blocks to compete.
Suazo did well. In fact, he won that event.
“I was just in awe,” said Rutan.
Suazo said he came away from that experience with a whole new outlook on the once dreaded hurdles.
“Something just kicked in me,” he said.
When he moved on to Westland High School, he continued to add more hurdling distances to his lengthy list of events. Eventually, the wins, accolades and record-setting times followed.
Jeff Snyder, the sprints and hurdles coach at the school, said watching Suazo’s progression over the years has been an inspiration for teammates and coaches alike.
“He has put in so much time and effort over the course of these four years and he has really grown in the sport in every way,” he said.
Snyder said Suazo’s dedication led the school to form an indoor season so he could continue to compete, improve and hopefully garner the interest of college scouts.
The decision worked in all aspects.
In February, Suazo earned a spot at the New Balance National Indoor Track and Field Competition by winning the state tournament in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.98 seconds. On March 11, he competed against 47 of the best hurdlers in the Emerging Elite Division and tied with Kentre Patterson of Michigan for first place in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.02 seconds. Because their race was a photo-finish, it was determined that Patterson crossed the line slightly before Suazo, so he officially took second place in his division. Suazo said he was not disappointed by the outcome.
“I didn’t expect to do well at all, to be honest,” he said. “I was so nervous and so sure that I would get last place and it would be like middle school all over again.”
Suazo said he was just happy that he could bring some pride and joy to his family and friends that he left behind when he moved to Ohio when he was 11 years old.
“In the place where I grew up, not many kids make it to compete at a national level in any sport, and some don’t even make it at all,” he said, referring to the crime-ridden Bronx neighborhood where he was raised.
He said he hopes his success on and off the track can show children who grew up in similar circumstances that they too can make it.
Snyder said that Suazo’s positive outlook and personality is why colleges across the country are taking a closer look at Westland’s multi-sport athlete.
“Ivan is a great athlete, but an even better person,” said Snyder.
He said any college would be fortunate to have a person like Suazo on their campus and representing their school on the track.
As for Rutan, he said he uses Suazo’s story as a motivational tool for his students.
“From where he started to where he is now, I would say he is one of the greatest success stories we’ve had at our school.”
Snyder believes that Suazo has the opportunity to be one of Westland’s best as well.
“He has a very bright future ahead of him and I look forward to keeping track of him as he grows.”
