Fidelis Osunkwo reacts to Olympic Athlete Hazel Clark’s video invitation.
BRONX, NY – The sport is called “cross country,” but typically that term just means running long distances. However, for one Truman cross country athlete, his run will literally take him overseas to another country.
Fidelis Osunkwo, a senior, was recently invited to the 2023 Bermuda Cross Country Challenge, which is slated for December 2nd, 2023 in Devonshire, Bermuda. The announcement came via a personal video invitation from three-time Olympic Athlete Hazel Clark.
“I saw Hazel Clark and I was just surprised. Really surprised,” Osunkwo said, reacting to the announcement. “I never thought I was going to do track and field. I feel really great. I”m grateful to have the opportunity to show my other teammates that I could help them out in other areas.”
“They looked out for everybody in the state of New York and they selected Fidelis to run the 3.1 mile event in Bermuda,” track coach Desiree Moorer said during a special event at the school. “He came into track because he wanted something extra to do, and ended up being really good at it.”
Osunkwo, a Nigerian native, has never been to the Caribbean before.
“I’m proud to be his coach, I’m proud that he’s your captain,” Moorer added.
The competition is presented by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, The Bermuda National Athletics Association, MileSplit and Speed4Sport, LLC. The event was first held last year in 2022, when more than 70 athletes, coaches and supporters traveled from the U.S. to compete.
(L to R) Ted Cook, Fidelis Osunkwo and track coach Desiree Moorer