Norton, a former member of the varsity boys track team, instructs junior Rayshawn McCall at practice. “(I enjoyed being an athlete because) I was able to go out and represent my school and my team. I felt like I was somebody,” Norton Said.
By OLIVIA RIPPS – Staff Writer
Newly named head track coach and Clarke Central High School alumnus Christian Norton has always had a love for track, even at a young age.
Christian Norton’s first word was football. He was raised in the shadow of University of Georgia athletics by a father who was the university’s head track coach. As a student, he also ran track for Clarke Central High School and eventually played football for UGA. And now, he has returned CCHS for the 2015 track season—as a coach.
For as long has he can remember, Norton was surrounded by the world of collegiate track.
“Now, I have been with track and field, and I can’t imagine a time not knowing and enjoying it. It’s always a passion deeply embedded in me,” Norton said.
As a child, Norton and his younger sister Jasmine often helped the UGA team at races and track competitions.
“There were opportunities growing up (to help) at track meets at UGA, and I used to be one of those people who would take the race results and bring them up to the press box to be announced,” Norton said. “Then as I got older, I got more complex tasks and more responsibilities.”
Norton began running track in seventh grade and pursued the sport all throughout high school.
“Just growing up with the sport and staying at it from that point of view, you know I had always wanted to participate. And once I did it, it was a dream come true,” Norton said.
As a student at CCHS, Norton was the captain of the football team and the track team. Norton was remembered by many for his commitment and leadership towards the teams.
“He would always work hard and have a positive attitude. He loved to compete and loved to win. He played just about every position at one point in his football career. He was a really versatile player,” Jasmine said.
Norton was not only celebrated at CCHS for his athletic skills, but also his character within the classroom.
“I would say Christian was a hard working, very conscientious kid. Just a good kid. He was a great kid to teach, a great kid to have in class,” former CCHS science department teacher Buddy Sims said.
Norton later attended UGA, where he maintained his involvement with the two sports.
“A typical spring semester for me would involve offseason football and at the same time track practice. I was a student volunteer and I was getting an education in track and field too,” Norton said.
Norton returned to CCHS to become the assistant varsity boys track coach in 2011 after graduating from UGA. Then, after briefly living in Houston, he came back to CCHS to coach football starting in the spring of 2013.
Following the 2013 spring track season, former CCHS track varsity coach Stefan Smith left to take the position at Cedar Shoals High School. After hearing of the job opening, Norton became interested.
“As soon as the time came available, I became interested,” Norton said. “It has always been my goal and dream to be the track coach (at CCHS).”
As head track coach, Norton has worked to recruit players for the 2015 season, and has been working specifically to recruit participants of winter sports. Jasmine feels that her brother’s personality will serve Norton well in persuading athletes to join the team.
“He likes to joke around and develop bonds with his athletes. However, when it comes time to get down to business he is very focused and motivated,” Jasmine said. “He is encouraging and is good at breaking down specific drills and techniques to his athletes in a way that makes it easy to understand.”
Norton is expecting big things out of the track team this season, and looks forward to the progress that will be made.
“We want to build off of what the team did well last year. It may sound laughable to say we came in ninth in region, but even with the region finish we still had a lot (of atheletes) go to state, and the core of those athletes are coming back,” Norton said.
Sims feels that Norton’s character and strong ties to CCHS make him a wise choice for head of the boys track program.
“Clarke Central needs good role models like Christian, and I was really glad to see him at the beginning of the school year and to see that he is actually working near Athens as a teacher and a coach,” Sims said.
This track season, Norton plans to help not only the team develop, but hopes that he will grow as well.
“The program is no stranger to success and I’m excited to be a part of that success,” Norton said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s one I’ve been waiting and preparing for.”
