Since transferring to Sacramento State from Saddleback Community College in the spring of 2006, Raphael McFarlane has made a huge impact on the Hornet track team.

He had opportunities to go to Clemson, Cal State Fullerton and Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo. He had all but signed with Clemson until the coach died in a skiing accident and left things up in the air.

The other two options fell through because it was already so late in the semester. After considering his options, he signed with Sac State in December and was on campus the next month.

“I felt I could help a lot at Sac State,” McFarlane said. “I came here a month after I signed – the first semester was really tough because I came straight into a Division I indoor track season – it was overwhelming.”

He has done more than just help. McFarlane has been solid in both sprints and jumps. Since arriving at Sac State, McFarlane has won the Big Sky outdoor long jump title and so far this year, the Big Sky indoor long jump title, not to mention competing in the 100, 200, 4×100 relay and the triple jump. “When I first had my visit to Sac State, I couldn’t get over how much people said ‘hella,’ but I’m used to it now,” McFarlane joked.

In four outdoor events this season, McFarlane has won three in the long jump, and one in the 100. He continued his winning ways at the Mt. SAC Relays Invitational by leaping 24-05 toward his third outdoor title. At the Causeway Classic, he won in four events, the 100, 4×100, long jump and triple jump.

“He is a multi-talented athlete,” coach Kathleen Raske said. “When he puts his mind to something he wants to do, he’ll go get it.”

McFarlane’s No. 1 goal is to make the all-academic team for the Big Sky and to continue to get his GPA up.

Another big goal is to break the school long jump record, held by Brandon Parker at 25-9. McFarlane also hopes to be an all-American in the long jump and to run faster in both the 100 and 200.

Having lofty goals contribute ,in large part, to his success.

McFarlane keeps his goals posted all over every wall of his room and bathroom as a constant reminder of what he is striving to achieve. He said it helps him stay focused on what he needs to do.

“He is highly talented,” Raske said. “The best part is yet to come. He is such a raw talent. I wish I had him for four years. He has just barely scratched the surface.”

McFarlane is not even close to satisfied with his performance thus far this season. He feels his 100 time is mediocre, and that he is slowly putting things together in the long jump.

“With me, I’m never really happy with my performance,” McFarlane said. “The team is really an achievement, like how we came together and won indoor. But as far as me personally, I’m not happy at all – yet.”

His main goal is not athletics, but a continued education and career in another field. McFarlane wants to become a physical therapist, and is currently a communications studies major and public relations minor. He wants to do something with sports through communication or public relations.

McFarlane’s support system consists of his family and God.

Since he has been away from home, he stressed the importance his family and God have played in his life.

He said his best friend on and off the track is his girlfriend, sophomore sprinter Brittany Thomas.

She helps him stay focused and is a big influence.

Another goal for McFarlane is to have his parents be able to watch him compete at Sac State in June at the NCAA outdoor championships.

“This (4×100) relay team is really coming along, and unexpected. That is another goal I have. I hope we make the nationals in that. It would be perfect competing at home,” McFarlane said.

When Jody Johnson came to the track team this season, it created a dynamic for McFarlane that wasn’t there before. It created a sense of urgency to make things happen.

“I was into track and everything, but my mindset wasn’t as high, my competitive desire wasn’t there. Once Jody and me started going at it, all of a sudden it’s starting to come back. I want to accomplish all my goals again,” McFarlane said.

McFarlane said it was tough to get competition in practice because Chauncey Corbin ran hurdles, and while that was going on, McFarlane would do his jumping. Corbin would do his run workout and be done, while McFarlane would have to do his workout by himself. Now, while Johnson is at football practice, McFarlane jumps so they can do their workout at the same time. It has paid off.

“We get to compete, and I’m one up on Raphael now,” Johnson said referring to their friendly rivalry. “It has worked for my endurance. I can maintain speed longer and my step has gotten a little quicker. On the football field, since I’m out on an island by myself and I play corner, I can’t blame anyone else for a play. Track helps translate to football and I can focus on myself more.”

At some meets, McFarlane wears a headband, or one high sock. Some meets he won’t do anything, earrings or no earrings, a chain or no chain and he always has on different warm-up clothes.

“I’m not superstitious at all,” McFarlane said.

McFarlane does a lot of resistance training to keep his body strong and to prevent getting run down over the season. He doesn’t eat fast food or drink soda, but other than that, he eats anything and is trying to gain weight. McFarlane said staying mentally strong and staying with God is the biggest key to his success. Along with excellent training and staying healthy, he feels that his God-given talent will take over.

“There is a lot left in him,” Raske said. “He can definitely compete post-collegiate. He needs to get more serious about the weightroom, but he is always getting better and has so much untapped and unlimited potential.”

The Hornets’ next meet is this weekend at UC Berkeley.

“Staying mentally strong is what really what helps me in competition,” McFarlane said. “I just want to go on with my education, and go to physical therapy school. If I excel at track beyond college, that’s cool, but most people can’t say they ran college track.”

Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]