Veronica Amarasekara

When former Track and Field and Cross Country head coach Rob Lander resigned from both positions in June, Bill Reeves stepped up as the head coach of cross country but left the head track coach position undecided at the time. Just before the track tryout period began, Boys’ Track coach, Veronica Amarasekara, took up the head track coaching position for the girls team as well.
Coach Amarasekara, more commonly known as Coach V, had her experience as an athlete start in the early 1970’s when she was a track athlete and volleyball player. She did not compete on her school track team, Cal Poly Pomona, but was a club athlete at the international level. Amarasekara has represented the U.S. before and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials four times. She got into coaching because she enjoys passing on her wisdom to others and teaching other athletes how to compete. In the mid 1980’s, Amarasekara began her coaching career, and coached her first state medalist jumper before she was 24 years old. She has been the Head Boys’ Track coach since the 1995 season. During that time, she has also worked with the female sprinters and horizontal jumpers.

“Last year, Coach V gave me great advice about my form when I run sprints and hurdles. I am looking forward to the new season because I know we perform better with different coaches’ coaching styles and point of views,” sophomore Alyssa Cantrell said.
Amarasekara has high expectations for her athletes and hopes to see them compete to the best of their abilities. She always looks forward to the start of CHS’s track season, and enjoys watching her athletes develop throughout her time coaching them.

“This upcoming season, as with every season, I look forward to seeing the athletes’ improvement throughout the course of the season. I enjoy watching them come together as a team,” Amarasekara said.

Her goals for the team this season are to continue to compete as one united team, place high as a team in league dual meet competition, and have as many CHS track athletes advance as far as they can into the postseason competition. Amarasekara plans to continue providing the CHS track athletes with coaching that helps them reach and maintain optimum fitness, maximize on their athletic potential, and exhibit good sportsmanship. She holds the other coaches in high regards and is grateful to have a hard working staff by her side.

“Claremont High is fortunate to have one of the most knowledgeable track and field coaching staffs in the Inland Valley. I plan to continue to utilize their expertise as we work together,” Amarasekara said.

Although she has been part of CHS’s coaching staff for many years, as her first year as the head coach of the girls’ team, she cannot wait to see how her athletes’ hard work and training is revealed throughout their meets.

Oliver Kirkeby

CHS is proud to welcome back alumnus Oliver Kirkeby to be the new throwing coach for the Track and Field team. Kirkeby is excited to be back and to help his alma mater in his first year of coaching.

“I am pleased to welcome Oliver Kirkeby, aka ‘Coach K,’ to the CHS track coaching staff. Coach K is an experienced thrower as well as a student of the throwing events,” Head Coach Veronica Amarasekara said. “While at Claremont High, he was a dedicated athlete and Varsity letter winner in the shot put and discus.”

Kirkeby was a member of the CHS track team during his junior and senior year from 2006 to 2007 and had one of the team’s current coaches, Amarasekara, as his coach. After his graduation, he continued his love of track and field at the University of San Francisco (USF), where he competed in Division I athletics and has competed against many prominent schools such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, University of Southern California, and Stanford. Kirkeby also holds the shot put and discus record at USF of 15.88 meters and 48.73 meters, respectively. With these accomplishments under his belt, Kirkeby returned to his alma mater in pursuit of his love of coaching and teaching as a profession.

Kirkeby likes to conduct a very structured practice. He times every drill and has a goal for the athletes to strive for every day. He believes that the most important part of training is by far the warm-up, as it sets the tone for the practice and prevents debilitating injuries that will keep an athlete from competing. Other than an increase in warm ups, Kirkeby does not plan to make any big changes.

“I don’t expect anything for the season. We can visualize good outcomes to keep our hope and focus.We will just do our very best each practice,” Kirkeby said.

In addition to having a strenuous workout, Kirkeby believes the athlete needs to enjoy the sport. If an athlete does not enjoy what they are doing, there is no use in doing it. With that, he tries to incorporate fun exercises that make practices more enjoyable.

“Coach K is really great; he helps us meet our goals. He tells us to work hard during practices so that when it is meet day, we are dropping bombs,” junior Noah Garcia said.

Kirkeby believes that he is capable of being the CHS throwing coach and can help the team achieve their desires for greatness. He is grateful for the position and hopes he can stay for years to come. He also wishes to have a student become a teacher like him.