Clarkston looking for another strong finish

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

It’s the end of October and the Clarkston boys’ cross country team is preparing for the 5A Georgia State Championships on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Head coach Wesley Etienne uses an encouraging but realistic tone talking about the expectations.

“A top five, top three finish … then we’ll know we’ve done our job as coaches,” he said. “We’ll know we’re building this program in the right direction.”

A year ago the team was in the midst of an historic celebration, winning its first ever state title.

The team from the northeast Atlanta, known for its diverse makeup and limited resources, was an underdog story, similar to that of “McFarland,” with the student-athletes coming to America -- in many cases as refugees -- for a better life and opportunities they didn’t have at home.

After finishing second at states in 2013, everything came together last year, with Clarkston winning its first state championship in program history.

“We’re kind of like the leaders of the school. People know how hard we worked for this,” junior Gamada Fayiso said.

A year after experiencing the highest of highs, this fall has been up and down, Etienne said.

“It’s been a roller-coaster year,” he said. “We lost four seniors. We lost two who moved to Texas. It’s been new faces, them getting used to the discipline and understanding the system to get to this level and commitment and dedication.”

Clarkston has one senior on the roster in his first year running. And only three runners  returned with state championship experience.

But the team motto, established when Etienne took over in 2012, “Faith, Focus, Fight and Finish” has never been more prevalent.

“We bended but we didn’t break,” Etienne said with a laugh.

One individual making a difference has been Fayiso. The junior, who is originally from Ethiopia, has been a member of the team for three seasons. He came to America for the same reason most of his teammates did: a better life.

He plans to be the first in his family to graduate with a college degree.

“In America, if you work for it, you can get it,” he said.

During last year’s state championship, he was behind the camera filming the celebrations. This fall, after a summer full of training, he cracked the top eight and is experiencing a new perspective.

“As human beings we want to be a part of something … it’s tough to swallow that pill,” Etienne said of Fayiso’s first two seasons. “But as humans we understand how obstacles work. Gamada is special to us. We’ve watched him grow. His work ethic is impeccable. He knows what he wants to be.”

As a quiet leader, Fayiso has been a steady and reliable influence for the younger athletes when need be.

On Oct. 24, Clarkston won the Region 6 5A title. 

“The chemistry of this year’s team is so much better than last year,” Etienne said. “I love the energy. They are so fun to be around, they stay cracking jokes.”

But as the boys made headlines, the Clarkston girls have quietly put together something successful as well. 

Like the boys, it’s a team of student-athletes hailing from all over the world, striving for more in life.

“The young ladies are very, very supportive of the boys,” Etienne said. “But we believe they have something special.”

This fall, the lady Angoras qualified for state for the second year in a row. Last season was the first time in program history they advanced. Despite finishing in last place, Etienne said they have an undeniable determination and grit. 

“They want to create their own path,” Etienne said. “Freshman Zyikeirra Robinson, she is running phenomenal for us.”

On Saturday, Clarkston will make the trip to Carrollton to see how this unpredictable season unfolds.

“I think we learned that we are capable of great things, running or school-wise,” Fayiso said.  “Everybody has talents. We just have to recognize it.”