Nelson or Alexander Always 1st in Track

It’s a little more difficult for Nelson Alexander to find his name on alphabetized lists than most. But for someone with a couple possibilities for a last name, it’s always in one of two places.

“If it’s not under A, it’s always under N,” Alexander said.

It’s a little easier to spot Alexander among the county’s track and field buffs--he’s the guy who 17 years ago started Alexander’s Lightning Express, the nation’s oldest youth track and field club and the one from which most others have originated.

Most everyone at Friday’s preliminaries of the Pacific Southwest AAU Youth Track and Field Championships at Poway High simply referred to him as Coach .

Alexander, retired from the Navy, began the Lightning Express as a way to get his daughter into athletics. He knew something about track, having competed in he Texas state track and field championships in the mid 1960s.

“I started it for my daughter, Demetria,” Alexander said. “She was an athlete, but she wasn’t into softball. The next year one of her friends wanted to join. The year after hat I had 25 kids, and the year after that, 100.”

The club, also run by Alexander’s wife Janie, has 55 members--several athletes left to form clubs closer to home. But there are several reasons why Alexander’s Lightning Express still is strong.

No. 1, it’s free.

“We don’t charge for joining the club because we understand everybody is not rich,” Alexander said. “Besides, there’s enough for parents to pay for when we go to out-of-town meets.”

And Alexander’s Lightning Express, which practices four times a week at Serra High, travels often. It has to. There simply are not many quality meets in San Diego.

This year’s schedule included several short jaunts to Los Angeles, as well as weekenders to Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Ariz., and Phoenix.

“The main thing that keeps their interest is traveling,” Alexander aid. “Then somewhere along the line, it just gets in their blood.”

Some athletes stay not for the travel, but for the personal touch.

“I talk to the kids and explain to them that track can get them a college scholarship,” Alexander said. “I also explain to them that no matter what they do in sports, that all sports come down to running, and the best athletes in the world are runners because of the conditioning factor.”

Said Janie, “Besides being their coach, we’re their psychologists, too. The kids come to us with their problems, and the parents even call us sometimes when they can’t find their kids at night. And we’ve been able to help find the kids. the parents don’t always know who their kids’ friends are, but we have everyone’s phone numbers.”

Shantice Clark, a 15-year-old Serra sophomore, started with the club when she was 7--almost by accident. At a Little League game, her mother asked her to go to the snack bar for some licorice--and to hurry.

Janie Alexander happened to notice the Clark’s haste and asked her if she would like to run track.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Clark said. “So I said yes.”

Eight years later, Clark is considered one of the area’s top young sprinters. This past high school track season, Clark made it to the Section finals in the sprints. Serra teammate Angela Sullivan won each event.

“But she’s a senior and she’s leaving,” Clark said of Sullivan. “So I’m taking her place.”

Clark credits Alexander’s coaching with her rise.

“He cares about your speed,” Clark said. “But he really cares about your form . . . “

“And that’s because how you look on the track is what’s going to carry you through,” Janie Alexander said.

Running is only one aspect of the club. It also adheres to strict academic standards, and Coach Alexander doesn’t even have to ask for a report card to make sure his athletes are keeping up. Janie worked for the San Diego Unified School for 14 years.

“When new kids come in, I don’t think they believe me,” Janie said. “But I still have my connections.”

Neither Nelson or Janie plan to retire from their full-time hobby soon.

“Hey, this is our vacation--spending the summer with these kids,” Janie said.

Added Nelson, “We’ll be coaching track until we’re in wheelchairs.”