Bar Raised for COD Men's Track Team, Triple Jumper Richard

This season, the level of expectations has been raised for the College of DuPage national champion men’s track and field team, and for Richmond Richard, its top returning triple jumper.

The Chaparrals, who’ve won eight national NJCAA Division III championships in the 10 years Jane Vatchev has been coach—including last spring—won’t get an opportunity to defend their crown this year. The program will instead compete at the NJCAA Division I level.

Meanwhile, Richard is filling some big shoes this spring. He becomes the team’s No. 1 performer in the triple jump, replacing graduated all-American Troy Doris, who set a national record en route to becoming the NJCAA Division III champion last May.

Doris, a two-time national champ, is now competing for the University of Iowa track team.

However, Richard—who finished runner-up to his former teammate at nationals and also earned all-American honors—relishes the challenge. In fact, one of his personal goals this season is to surpass Doris’ record jump of 52 feet, 3 ¾ inches.

“I want to break Troy’s record,” said Richard, a Woodridge resident whose personal best is 48-11, which he jumped at a USATF regional track and field meet last summer. “I feel like I can do it. That, and to just give my best effort (this season). I’ve been working hard, and I hope my hard work pays off and leaves a mark for people (at COD) to chase.”

Richard’s hard work is already paying dividends. The Chaps were one of only two community college teams that competed against NCAA Division III schools at the North Central College Cardinal Classic indoor meet on Feb. 18. Richard became the only community college athlete to win a title that day with a jump of 47-5 ¼. Teammate Dom Adjoumani finished third.

“I just went there and got the job done,” said Richard, an all-state triple jumper at Romeoville High School who placed seventh at the 2009 Class AA state meet his senior year. “I knew I could do it because I went in there ranked as the best jumper.”

“I certainly think he has the potential to do great things (this year) and jump very far,” Vatchev said. “Rich is working incredibly hard, and if anybody could surpass him (Doris), certainly I think Rich could.

“Rich has a great work ethic. He comes from a very good high school program. He’s brought in a really great focus. We’ve had a great group of long and triple jumpers the last couple of years, and certainly he’s been a big part of that.”

Vatchev notes that COD’s depth in this area can only benefit the team in the long run.

“One of the things that’s been outstanding, and even today with Troy gone, is that we still have some other jumpers that are on Rich’s heels right now,” she said. “They push each other in practice on a daily basis. When you have that on a continuous basis with practicing and training, I think it brings out the best in them.”

The Chaps certainly will be pushed as a team as it makes the jump to NJCAA Division I, which like its NCAA counterpart, offers scholarships. Sports programs at COD compete at both the NJCAA Division I and III levels. (For example, COD's track, tennis, soccer and cross country teams are in Division I. ) But the school doesn't give scholarships.

COD goes up against teams from four-year schools at indoor and outdoor meets each week. Nevertheless, moving up to the Division I level is something Vatchev says will be difficult and challenging, but exciting.

“We’re going to be competing at a much higher level,” she said. “To win a team championship is going to be quite a stretch and a lofty goal. I certainly think that if we were in Division III, we would be in the running again (for a national championship). But for Division I, our big concern is to try and get as many (individuals) qualified (for the national meet) as possible.”