Shenel Crooke
Track & Field
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Major: Business Administration
Morgan State junior sprinter Shenel Crooke seems to get better and better each week and with each meet. A native of Basseterre, St. Kitts, Crooke captured both the 100 and 200 meter dash titles last weekend at the J Fred Dockett-Rice Twilight Meet (April 16) in Houston, Texas. It was her second straight meet victory in the 100m and third consecutive 200m win. Crooke's time of 24.10 in the 200m at Rice, was a personal-best for her.
On Wednesday (April 20), Crooke was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Track Performer of the Week. It was the fourth MEAC honor this season for Crooke, who earned two of her honors during the indoor season and the third on April 6.
Crooke and the Lady Bears will be back in action this weekend, when they host the 13th annual Legacy Meet (April 22-23) at Hughes Stadium.
What is the best time of year in campus? I like the warmer seasons. So maybe spring, late April-early May.
What is your major and why did you choose it? Business administration. It's easier to be flexible in different fields in business.
What has been your favorite or most interesting class at MSU? My Organizational Behavior class.
If you had to give an incoming student advice, what would it be? When you start, use your time wisely. At the end of the day, you should be focused on getting the most out of your college experience.
Describe your first day as a student at Morgan State. Kind of exciting. I was a little lost trying to find my classes, but my teammates helped me find my way and helped me adapt.
What do you like most about Morgan State? The atmosphere. It's easy to get to know more people because of the close knit environment. Because of the campus size, you get more attention being social and especially in classes.
Pop Culture
What is your favorite social media? I don't have any. I'm not really a fan of social media.
Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? Read the book first.
Favorite TV show? I like the show "White Collar."
Favorite book or magazine? The entire Harry Potter series. I can't pick just one, I love them all.
Do you have a favorite celebrity? I don't necessarily have a favorite, I'll say Will Smith.
Favorite musician or group? John Legend.
Favorite childhood cartoon? Power Puff Girls
What is the most interesting place you've visited? Costa Rica. It was different. The people, the food, and the atmosphere, just different. It was very lively.
Where would you like to visit? South Africa.
Favorite home-cooked meal? Sweet Potato casserole.
Favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? Cocoa Crisps.
Sports
Which team do you most look forward to competing against? Any team that has good competition and quality athletes.
Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals? Yea. I don't do anything new. Everything I do has been in my routine for at least a few months so that I know it works.
What is your favorite part about playing your sport? The opportunities it brings you. Going new places, meeting new people and the different opportunities it brings you when you travel abroad.
What is your favorite athletic memory? My national championships in my home country. I was much younger than everybody, but because I was having such a good year I got placed in the "A" heat with very good competition.
What is your favorite professional sports team? The West Indies cricket team.
When did you begin running track? I've always been running, but I started training with a coach my freshman year of high school.
When you're not at practice, what could someone find you doing? In my room, studying or watching TV.
What do you most look forward to heading into a season? I always look forward to the first meet. It helps me gauge where I am and where I need to be.
What made you start running track? It's just something that we did in primary school. When I saw the Olympics I said this is where I wanted to be and stuck with it.
If you could play any other sport, what would it be? I don't think I would choose anything else, I love my sport.
Miscellaneous
If you were a superhero, what would your super power be? Invisibility.
Do you have an interesting nickname? Cookie. Bobbi (Addison) gave me that because I love cookies (laughs)
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? To be true to myself. Don't worry about anything that's going on around me, just stay true to me.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be a bit more outgoing. Sometimes I tend to be introverted and a little shy.
Person you admire the most? Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Most prized possession? It would probably have to be my spikes.
If you could have dinner with 3 people who would they be? Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kevin Hart, and Trevor Noah.
Your hometown is known for? Primarily it is known for being one of the premier producers of sugar. Now we're known for tourism, hosting music festivals, Carnival, and international sporting events.
Early bird or night owl? Night owl.
Funniest person on the team? Stan Hall.
After meeting Coach Hodge, your first thought was...? I knew I would have to put in a lot of work. Nothing would be easy and I knew I would have to adapt that mindset.
