2011 CCNY Beavers: A Dynasty in the Making
Written by Eldridg Chavez
"The tradition and the history of winning in this program was here before I got here, and as soon as I was hired, I wanted to keep it going," Head Coach
Demetrius Murray said.
Murray said this mere moments after the City College of New York Beavers won an unprecedented 10th consecutive CUNYAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1, 2020 at the New Balance Track and Field Center in New York, New York.
"My team is reminded on a regular basis that this is special. What they are doing and the history they are a part of. Every time we step onto the track, we represent CCNY, and there's expectations to win. This is a big deal and it is an honor and a pleasure to be a part of it," Murray said.
Before the decade of dominance, the indoor track and field championships belonged to the York Cardinals and the Lehman Lightings.
The two programs split five of the previous six titles from 2005-2010, with CCNY nabbing one in between in 2007.
The Beavers were in a rebuilding season in 2011 despite finishing third in the 2010 CUNYAC Championships. Returning was the reigning rookie of the year,
Paul Dedewo, who set the bar even higher in his sophomore campaign.
The product from DeWitt Clinton High School took performer of the week honors three times that season, taking first in the 400-meter at the St. John’s Indoor Meet, Thomson Invitational, and the all-important CUNYAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Dedewo set personal bests in the 50m, 60m and 500m races, earning CUNYAC Male Performer of the Year honors for 2011.
There was also a new coach at the helm in 2011. The Beavers hired head coach
Hugh Reid following the 2010 campaign, looking to bring a new philosophy to both the men’s and women’s track and field teams.
“This season has been a rebuilding season for CCNY; as we tried to rebuild confidence, team character, and a respect for the sport. Like our mascot, I tried to build a dam with various significant people,” Reid said.
Reid was an eight-time Barbados National Champion, four-time National silver medalist and two-time National bronze medalist. As a master's athlete, Reid represented the United States and was a seven-time US National Champion; three-time US National silver medalist; and two-time US National bronze medalist.
In total, Reid developed 13 All-Stars in 2011 (six on the men’s side) and that talent was displayed at the CUNYAC Indoor Championships.
On the men’s front, CCNY (154) paced Medgar Evers (128.5)
, Hunter (105.5) and Lehman (23), City Tech (0) and York (0).
Dedewo was tabbed Co-Most Valuable Performer that night along with Hunter’s
Chris Guerrero. Dedewo kicked to first-place finishes in the 200m (22.18) and 400m runs (49.13), while capturing a silver medal in the 55m dash (6.90).
“It feels incredible to be able to help my team out,” Dedewo said. “I have been motivated lately because I was injured early in the season, and my confidence was not where it needed to be. It is extremely great to be able to run ECAC-caliber times and get recognition from the conference.”
Reid left CCNY after the 2015 season and went on to coach the Lightning track and field team, a team he still coaches today. Reid led the Lightning to a tie for the CUNYAC title in 2019 with CCNY. The championship was Lehman’s first title since 2009 and it marked the first time ever that a tie occurred in CUNYAC history.
The 2011 Beavers started a winning tradition that hasn’t been achieved in any sport in the history of the City University of New York Athletic Conference. "The tradition and the history of winning in this program was here before I got here, and as soon as I was hired, I wanted to keep it going."
CUNYAC Throwback Series