Derick Adamson


Derick "Ringo" Adamson" is a Jamaican former marathon runner. He competed at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and also won the 1984 and 1985 Philadelphia Marathons.

Sporting career

Adamson studied at Glassboro State College, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. During his time there, he was a four-time all-conference runner, competing in the steeplechase and other long-distance running events. In 1980, during his sophomore year, he won the NCAA Division III steeplechase championship, and finished fourth in the Jamaican trials for the 1980 Olympics. Adamson qualified for the marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games, where he finished 52nd in a time of 2:25:02. Later in the year, he won the 1984 Philadelphia Marathon in a time of 2:16.39, a Jamaican national record in the event. In 1985, Adamson won the event for a second consecutive year in a time of 2:18:27, 5 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of anyone else. After the race, Adamson said that he had hoped to have run a faster time, but was slowed down by the wind. Adamson competed in the marathon at the 1988 Olympic Games, finishing 84th, and also ran the 10,000 metres at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, where he finished ninth.

Coaching career

From 1983 to 1988, Adamson was the men's head cross-country coach at Gloucester County College, and was also the women's head cross-country coach from 1991 to 1994. He won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. In July 2014, Adamson became the first full-time Rowan coach for women's cross-country.