STEVEN ALSTON
Clarkstown South High School
Class of 1980
Steven D. Alston's route to track & field success ran through the wrestling room, of all places. Competing for Clarkstown South as a freshman at 124 pounds, 11 pounds less than his normal weight, a weakened Steve allowed himself to be pinned by a Nyack opponent, a "selfish" and "embarrassing" moment that hurt the team and led Coach Maurice "Mo" Scro to suggest that Steve come out for the track team. "You seem to have pretty good speed and strength in your legs," Coach Scro told Steve. When Steve leaped 10 feet in a standing long-jump test, with no running start, "Coach was amazed and told me to show up for practice as soon as the season started," Steve recalls. "I will
forever be grateful to this incredible man for looking beyond my failure and seeing my potential."
Thus began a jumping career that reached its zenith in the spring of 1980, Steve's senior year, when he uncorked a 48-foot, 7 ½-inch triple jump – a personal best by more than a foot – to claim second place at the New York State championships. The 48-7 ½ ranked No. 2 on the all-time Rockland outdoor list when set and is currently No. 3, behind only a pair of Nyack aces – Lonnie Smith (48-10 ¼, wind-aided) and Gersinio Thelismond (48-9 ¼). Steve says he was as surprised as anyone when he heard the measurement. Even though he had switched to two-a-day workouts that season to boost his power and explosiveness and tapered way back to time his peak for the State meet, “I didn't know I was going to jump as far as I did,” he acknowledges.
Down the Runway, Bound for Glory
Steve preceded his State meet performance with a solid victory in the Section 9 State Qualifier, spanning 47-7 to overtake his close rival Kermit Taylor of Nyack. All told, Steve captured four Section 9 Class A crowns and two Rockland County titles, made first team All-County three times, and was named 1980 Rockland Field Athlete of the Season. In the 1980 spring season he swept long jump/triple jump gold medals at both the Rockland County PSAL and Section 9 Class A meets. He also claimed Section 9 triple jump victories both indoors and outdoors his junior year, 1979, as well as a State Qualifier gold medal and sixth place at States that indoor season.
Other highlights included a 47-5 ½ bronze-medal leap at the 1980 New York Relays, bronze medals at the 1980 Loucks Games (46-6 ¼) and 1979 West Point indoor invitational (45-6 ¾), and triple jump relay titles with teammate Arthur Anthony at the Don Bosco Relays, Nanuet Relays and Iona Relays. The consistently high-performing duo earned the admiration of Coach Scro, who noted in a Journal-News article, "They are the two best kids I have ever coached."
Although he doesn't dwell on his setbacks, Steve was keenly disappointed when injury curtailed what looked to be a promising winter season his senior year. After chipping a hipbone during an ill-fated stab at football in the fall, he jumped 46-3 ¾ in his delayed season opener to set an RCC field house record at a PSAL five-way meet in January. The exhilaration of that season debut was soon quashed when Steve pulled his right hamstring during practice, a result of overworking his quadriceps thigh muscles and under-working the hamstrings. Nonetheless, the 46-3 ¾ jump ranked No. 2 on the all-time Rockland indoor list at the time and is currently No. 6.
Steve who stands 5-foot-8 and weighed 135 to 140 during high school, also excelled in the high jump with a personal best of 6-2. He received superior coaching from a staff that included Scro, Jerry Katchmar, Art Lebofsky (high jump), Jim Barber (horizontal jumps) and Ray Roswell. Arthur Anthony was Steve's compatriot in the jumping pits and remains a good friend, as does ex-teammate Greg Kuhn, "a great guy as well as athlete ... he was always encouraging to his teammates.” As for his competitors, Steve remembers battling it out with the likes of Kermit Taylor and Dana Smith of Nyack and Lloyd Jack of Spring Valley, among others.
Academic Turnaround, Following Path of Higher Education
A self-described "terrible student" his first two years, Steve took the advice of South guidance counselor Kenneth Butler to heart beginning his junior year and applied himself to his academic pursuits thereafter, recognizing the value of higher education. He attended Taft Community College in California, transferred to Cal State Northridge and wound up at Cal State Bakersfield, where he earned a B.A. in English. Athletically, he won a Western State Conference triple jump title (48-6) at Taft, ranked third on an all-time list in a jumps pentathlon competition at Northridge, and ranked first in jumps triathlon and decathlon (including weight lifting) competitions, also at Northridge.
Steve obtained a master's degree in communications and public relations from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., and is pursuing an educational doctoral degree in biblical leadership through Colorado Biblical University in Fort Morgan, Colo. He is also studying theology at Biblical Education Extension (BEE) World religious college.
Sailor, TV Journalist, Veterans Advocate, Call to Ministry
Steve's career beyond college has branched out in many directions. Two years after graduating from Cal State Bakersfield, he joined the Navy and served during the Persian Gulf War. As an electronic warfare specialist, he was granted a secret clearance to gain access to classified material. When a naval roommate brought classified material to their barracks room, Steve made the hard decision to turn his comrade in, ending a close friendship but staying true to his oath to safeguard his country at any cost. His actions in discovering and reporting a national security breach – preventing a potential compromise of classified material – earned Steve a meritorious mast citation in a ceremony recognizing his bravery and dedication.
After his honorable discharge as a Navy Persian Gulf War veteran, Steve went to work for WNBC News 4 New York as a back-up chopper reporter, and later for WYNY Fox in the same role. He then discovered his “other passion" in helping people find gainful employment in the job market, through a position with the New York State Department of Labor. After 10 years in that fulfilling role, he was hired to assist veterans in obtaining compensation and other benefits derived from their service time.
Now retired from his New York State position, Steve, an ordained reverend, operates an organization called Information Impacting Change (IIC) Ministries of New York. IIC Ministries is a subsidiary of Nyack-based St. John Deliverance Tabernacle Church, which was founded in 1976 by Steve's mother, the late Reverend Elizabeth Alston. IIC Ministries is also in partnership with Convergence Church and Convergence Church Council of Bishops in the Philippines, where Steve was ordained.
Steve, who is 61, has lived in Yonkers for the past 15 years, in a “beautiful co-op” in South Yonkers overlooking the Hudson. He is engaged to marry Liezel Tagum in July of 2023 and will become stepfather to her three children, Lianne, Joshua and John Kirby. The couple's wedding will take place in Tagaytay, Philippines and the family will eventually reside in New York.
When Steve takes an introspective look back at his high school experience with the Clarkstown South track team, he sees only positives. “I would not be the successful person I am today without the influences of high school athletics,” he says. “The discipline and reality of what it takes to become successful were embedded in my character from my competitive experiences as a young athlete.”
forever be grateful to this incredible man for looking beyond my failure and seeing my potential."
Thus began a jumping career that reached its zenith in the spring of 1980, Steve's senior year, when he uncorked a 48-foot, 7 ½-inch triple jump – a personal best by more than a foot – to claim second place at the New York State championships. The 48-7 ½ ranked No. 2 on the all-time Rockland outdoor list when set and is currently No. 3, behind only a pair of Nyack aces – Lonnie Smith (48-10 ¼, wind-aided) and Gersinio Thelismond (48-9 ¼). Steve says he was as surprised as anyone when he heard the measurement. Even though he had switched to two-a-day workouts that season to boost his power and explosiveness and tapered way back to time his peak for the State meet, “I didn't know I was going to jump as far as I did,” he acknowledges.
Down the Runway, Bound for Glory
Steve preceded his State meet performance with a solid victory in the Section 9 State Qualifier, spanning 47-7 to overtake his close rival Kermit Taylor of Nyack. All told, Steve captured four Section 9 Class A crowns and two Rockland County titles, made first team All-County three times, and was named 1980 Rockland Field Athlete of the Season. In the 1980 spring season he swept long jump/triple jump gold medals at both the Rockland County PSAL and Section 9 Class A meets. He also claimed Section 9 triple jump victories both indoors and outdoors his junior year, 1979, as well as a State Qualifier gold medal and sixth place at States that indoor season.
Other highlights included a 47-5 ½ bronze-medal leap at the 1980 New York Relays, bronze medals at the 1980 Loucks Games (46-6 ¼) and 1979 West Point indoor invitational (45-6 ¾), and triple jump relay titles with teammate Arthur Anthony at the Don Bosco Relays, Nanuet Relays and Iona Relays. The consistently high-performing duo earned the admiration of Coach Scro, who noted in a Journal-News article, "They are the two best kids I have ever coached."
Although he doesn't dwell on his setbacks, Steve was keenly disappointed when injury curtailed what looked to be a promising winter season his senior year. After chipping a hipbone during an ill-fated stab at football in the fall, he jumped 46-3 ¾ in his delayed season opener to set an RCC field house record at a PSAL five-way meet in January. The exhilaration of that season debut was soon quashed when Steve pulled his right hamstring during practice, a result of overworking his quadriceps thigh muscles and under-working the hamstrings. Nonetheless, the 46-3 ¾ jump ranked No. 2 on the all-time Rockland indoor list at the time and is currently No. 6.
Steve who stands 5-foot-8 and weighed 135 to 140 during high school, also excelled in the high jump with a personal best of 6-2. He received superior coaching from a staff that included Scro, Jerry Katchmar, Art Lebofsky (high jump), Jim Barber (horizontal jumps) and Ray Roswell. Arthur Anthony was Steve's compatriot in the jumping pits and remains a good friend, as does ex-teammate Greg Kuhn, "a great guy as well as athlete ... he was always encouraging to his teammates.” As for his competitors, Steve remembers battling it out with the likes of Kermit Taylor and Dana Smith of Nyack and Lloyd Jack of Spring Valley, among others.
Academic Turnaround, Following Path of Higher Education
A self-described "terrible student" his first two years, Steve took the advice of South guidance counselor Kenneth Butler to heart beginning his junior year and applied himself to his academic pursuits thereafter, recognizing the value of higher education. He attended Taft Community College in California, transferred to Cal State Northridge and wound up at Cal State Bakersfield, where he earned a B.A. in English. Athletically, he won a Western State Conference triple jump title (48-6) at Taft, ranked third on an all-time list in a jumps pentathlon competition at Northridge, and ranked first in jumps triathlon and decathlon (including weight lifting) competitions, also at Northridge.
Steve obtained a master's degree in communications and public relations from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., and is pursuing an educational doctoral degree in biblical leadership through Colorado Biblical University in Fort Morgan, Colo. He is also studying theology at Biblical Education Extension (BEE) World religious college.
Sailor, TV Journalist, Veterans Advocate, Call to Ministry
Steve's career beyond college has branched out in many directions. Two years after graduating from Cal State Bakersfield, he joined the Navy and served during the Persian Gulf War. As an electronic warfare specialist, he was granted a secret clearance to gain access to classified material. When a naval roommate brought classified material to their barracks room, Steve made the hard decision to turn his comrade in, ending a close friendship but staying true to his oath to safeguard his country at any cost. His actions in discovering and reporting a national security breach – preventing a potential compromise of classified material – earned Steve a meritorious mast citation in a ceremony recognizing his bravery and dedication.
After his honorable discharge as a Navy Persian Gulf War veteran, Steve went to work for WNBC News 4 New York as a back-up chopper reporter, and later for WYNY Fox in the same role. He then discovered his “other passion" in helping people find gainful employment in the job market, through a position with the New York State Department of Labor. After 10 years in that fulfilling role, he was hired to assist veterans in obtaining compensation and other benefits derived from their service time.
Now retired from his New York State position, Steve, an ordained reverend, operates an organization called Information Impacting Change (IIC) Ministries of New York. IIC Ministries is a subsidiary of Nyack-based St. John Deliverance Tabernacle Church, which was founded in 1976 by Steve's mother, the late Reverend Elizabeth Alston. IIC Ministries is also in partnership with Convergence Church and Convergence Church Council of Bishops in the Philippines, where Steve was ordained.
Steve, who is 61, has lived in Yonkers for the past 15 years, in a “beautiful co-op” in South Yonkers overlooking the Hudson. He is engaged to marry Liezel Tagum in July of 2023 and will become stepfather to her three children, Lianne, Joshua and John Kirby. The couple's wedding will take place in Tagaytay, Philippines and the family will eventually reside in New York.
When Steve takes an introspective look back at his high school experience with the Clarkstown South track team, he sees only positives. “I would not be the successful person I am today without the influences of high school athletics,” he says. “The discipline and reality of what it takes to become successful were embedded in my character from my competitive experiences as a young athlete.”