Many wonder where athletes who once shone in the athletic universe have gone; today I highlight one of them, high jumper Marino Drake who had the luck or misfortune of coexisting with the best in the world, Javier Sotomayor. With a personal best of two meters and 34 centimeters, the Cuban participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1991 Tokyo World Athletics Championships, and the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, among other top-level events, where he achieved his best results.
To have an even closer connection with the Prince of Heights, Marino was born in the same municipality of Matanzas, Limonar. He was trained at that level by the same coach who discovered Soto, Professor Carmelo Benítez, as well as by Anacleto Espinosa at the provincial level, and later, at the elite level, by Professor José Godoy, Juvenal Pérez, and Guillermo de la Torre, architects of Javier Sotomayor's great triumphs.
Where do you live, what do you do, when did you leave?
I live in North Carolina, United States. I work at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), which is one of the historically black universities in this country, a center of higher education that allowed the education of thousands of African Americans during the times of segregation. I have been working at NCCU for 16 years; there I have spent the majority of my work life in the United States, after arriving in 2002.
You retired from active sports in 1997, what did you do, how did you end up in the United States?
When I retired from sports, I was working in the Dominican Republic as part of a sports mission by INDER for two years. There I met my current wife, Clare Barrington. Upon completing the mission, I returned to Cuba and after an intense process of decisions and paperwork, as we all know how it is, I got married and emigrated to the USA.
I have three daughters, two who were born here and the oldest who is 100% Cuban. They all live with me and are the loves of my life. Only one turned out to be an athlete, the middle one, Rafaela Drake, a triple jump and long jump athlete as well as a 400 meters runner, state champion, and student at Columbia University. She prioritizes her studies over her athletic activities.
What function do you perform at NCCU?
I am the Assistant Head Coach, which is something like the deputy director of the university athletics program. It was not easy to get to where I am because, as you must know, coming to this country with over 30 years without knowing English was quite a challenge.
I did all kinds of work, from cleaning floors, cooking, working in a sheet factory, personal trainer in gyms until after studying and connecting with some coaches who guided me I was able to start as a volunteer coach.
First at "Johns Hopkins" University, then at the University of South Carolina with one of the best coaches in this country, Coach Frye, whose reference helped me a lot to be hired at NCCU as a coach. Coach Lawson has also been influential, and currently, Coach Walker, who has been an indissoluble component for my professional development.
I am very grateful for the opportunity, first of all, to live in a country that has opened its doors to me, has allowed me to help my family, and has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Marino Dreke's favorite to win the high jump in Paris?
Let's see, Julita, I would like Luis Enrique Zayas to win, but after his injury at the beginning of the year, I haven't heard anything else. I don't know how he is doing. My wish is for him to be fully recovered and able to deliver a worthy performance. Apart from him, there is the Italian Camberri, who has been performing very well this year, and of course the Qatari Bashim, another athlete who has left his mark in high jump.
Regarding Paris 2024, Cuba will be represented by only 60 athletes, the smallest delegation since Mexico 68. What do you know about this?
Am I honest with you? Not very. I am overwhelmed with work; within that, what I follow the most are the jumpers, both high jumpers and long and triple jumpers, both Cuban and from around the world. In the case of the Cubans, wherever they compete, wherever they are, I am their fan. I am very connected with the Cuban coaches of those guys.
My wishes are for all the members of our delegation and those Cubans who will attend under other flags to succeed, make their greatest effort, and achieve excellent results.
I know that some do not think this way; a false sense of patriotism prevents them from being happy for Cubans under other flags. I believe that each person has the right to self-determination, to be what they want to be, to take advantage of the opportunities that arise for their own good and that of their family... It's just one life!
The homeland belongs to everyone, no matter where you are from, you are Cuban. You must be greater than a feeling used with ideals and slogans. Everyone and every country experience this process in one way or another. Many born here but with parents of different nationalities use this opportunity to represent other countries, as is the case with Félix Sánchez in the Dominican Republic. May the best person win, and if they are Cuban, even better. Above any political consideration, what's important is that everyone has the opportunity to demonstrate their worth and be happy in their effort.
Do you consider yourself a happy man?
A lot! I am very happy. As a friend from Limonar says, if Javier is the Prince of the Heights, I am the Prince of Limonar. That is why I have achieved as an athlete and as a human being; for what I have been able to do with my life. And I feel happy about it.
For many years, I have thought about what would have become of my life if Soto had not coexisted with me, but I wouldn't change that for anything. The opportunity I've had to share with him trainings, competitions, honestly a big part of my life, our friendship and brotherhood has been unique. Certainly, sports marked a very beautiful time in my life, I visited many countries, met many people, and had pleasant experiences. Although I acknowledge that it was a short period; under different circumstances, I know it would have lasted a little longer.
In sports, I had the opportunity to educate myself, learn from myself; I really enjoyed training with Javier and traveling and competing with him. Of course, I had my difficult moments when I had to train alone on occasion, many times without a training plan.
That's why I am grateful to Luis Pinillo and José Luis Alfaro, two great jumpers and coaches, for their advice during my preparation at times when I was practically at ground zero, without a coach. I have a bitter taste as I had to retire from the sport jumping 2.28m. For some years as a coach, I jumped higher than my athletes, both in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
But in the end... life is all a lesson! That has been valuable to me in my current professional life. Ah! Maybe I could have lasted a little longer in my career as a high jumper, perhaps... but I don't regret it! Here I am doing what I love, fighting for my family and for myself.
Looking back, what wouldn't you have changed?
The fact of having shared with the best high jumper of all time, my friend Javier Sotomayor; having trained, shared, being his friend.
Sportingly, an unforgettable moment for Marino Drake.
There are two main ones: the one I mentioned before from the Centrocaribes in Mexico 90, when I went from being a nobody to being a rival to consider for Sotomayor and actually becoming the second figure in the specialty in Cuba. Do you remember when I arrived at the airport and journalists, including you, swarmed me and I didn't know what to say? Hahahaha
The other moment was at the Tokyo World Championships, where the top five jumpers were black; something that is not talked about but was a fact: Charles Austin, Javier Sotomayor, Hollis Conway, Dalton Grant, Marino Drake, and Troy Kemp tied for fifth place.
Do you know? When I look back on my life, I am grateful to my coaches: Carmelo Benítez, José Anacleto, Juvenal Pérez, José Godoy, Luis Rodríguez (gear 400), Guillermo de la Torre. To all of them, including officials and teammates in sports.
What do you remember from your childhood, why did you choose high jump?
I started in a time when (late 80s, early 90s), the prevailing economic condition in the country allowed for the development of sports from a very young age. In particular, I have very good memories of Coach Carmelo, a man dedicated to sports who loved what he did; aware of how to identify talent and propel it to high performance so it wouldn't be left behind. In addition to this, he forged a friendship, became like family, and connected with our reality, our experiences.
Carmelo Benítez was a key figure in the sports initiation of Javier and me, and many others like the late runner Robertico Hernández; Carmelo has a very significant meaning to us. He provided us with the foundation, as from there we went through the EIDE and the ESPA, with a team of advanced coaches: Anacleto, Banderas, Mario, Juvenal, Perdomo, indispensable pillars in our sports and personal careers until we fell into the miraculous hands of José Godoy and upon his death, into those of Guillermo de la Torre.
Of course, Soto advanced to high performance before me because his enormous talent was already evident since his adolescence.
Always a high jumper?
When I joined the national youth team, I was doing the 400-meter hurdles and high jump; at that time, I decided to focus on the jump because in that discipline, I was the second best in Cuba at that age. I was jumping between two meters five centimeters and 2.10, first with Juvenal and then with Godoy. I have to tell you that my physical abilities did not match my results; I was strong, fast but couldn't meet the coach's demands, and I had to go back to the 400 hurdles - he kicked me out! Hahaha. I think neither he nor Guillermo had much patience with me in the later years of my sports career. But well, that's history.
What does the figure of Soto represent to you?
I have shared with Soto practically since I was born; we went to the same schools, we are the same age, our mothers worked together and were friends. Growing up and competing alongside him, my best friend, has always been something significant for me. Of course, I knew and know that his quality was superior, but we have never had any disagreements about it.
We have lived so many experiences together, I keep so many moments in my heart. Having the opportunity to train with him, to compete with him, to share as friends, are some of the most important things in my life. He always fought for me, so they would give me the opportunity to prove my worth.
I'll give you an example. I was not considered when the Centrocaribes of Mexico 90 and Javier stood up and convinced the coaches for me to attend those games. From then on, they saw me differently, they counted on me. In the Aztec appointment, I was second with two meters 32 centimeters, only surpassed by Soto, 2.34. With those 2.32 I placed myself among the top 10 jumpers on the planet that year; they trusted me and everything, thanks to Javier.
Do you remember that competition? Sotomayor was not fully prepared for that event, and only his tremendous ability allowed him to jump 2.34 meters and beat me. It was a tremendous duel, we were both very happy, and all of our teammates in the stands cheered our attempts over the bar. This is one of the most beautiful anecdotes of our career.
Did you ever beat him/her?
A couple of times but not in major competitions. The rivalry existed but he was, without a doubt, the best of all time. There are his unbeatable records. Personally, we have always been there for each other; our friendship is beautiful and sincere.
Do you consider your era to be the best in Cuban athletics?
Look, there are nuances; each era has its own. From Andarín Carvajal, Barrientos, Figuerola, Miguelina, Silvio, María Caridad, Delís, passing through Sotomayor, Iván Pedroso, Anier García, Osleydis, Yipsi, Dayron Robles, to the present day with that Cuban school of triple jump that could give plenty to talk about in Paris 2024.
However, my times for me are so significant that who doubts it? they are the best. Hahahaha. That Jesús Molina leading Cuban athletics is unmatched. There would be many names, but they are there; we are a generation that will be spoken of forever, a generation that gave rise to another very large one as well. Javier, Iván, Yoelvis, Norberto moved from one to another. All... immeasurable figures!
And there you have the Prince of the Heights, a member of the national committee, training one of his sons, as an everlasting part of the greats of Cuban track and field.
Marino Drake is a medalist at the Ibero-American Athletics Championship and at the Central American and Caribbean Games, as well as in other athletic events in Europe and America. In 1991, he placed fifth in the World Athletics Championship in Japan with a jump of 2.34 meters, his personal best. That same year, during the European tour, he placed second in Saint Denis, France, also jumping 2.34 meters. In 1992, he won a bronze medal at the Ibero-American Athletics Championship in Seville, and at the Barcelona Olympic Games, he finished in eighth place with a jump of 2.28 meters. He retired from active sports in 1997.
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