KIMBERLY McDOLE-GORDON

RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 1983

Kimberly McDole-Gordon forged a legacy as one of the greatest jumpers and sprinters in Rockland track & field history. She excelled in the jumps, sprints and relays while representing Kakiat Junior High, Spring Valley and Ramapo high schools, and the University of Houston.

Kim first served notice of her jumping prowess as a freshman at Spring Valley with a New York State indoor championship in the long jump. After transferring to Ramapo as a sophomore, she continued to shine for three more years. She finished second in the State long jump in both the 1981 indoor and 1982 outdoor seasons, losing the latter by a single inch.

Kim’s senior year, 1983, proved to be one for the history books. She won her second State title in the long jump, spanning 19 feet, 9 ½ inches to set a New York State outdoor record. That mark still ranked in the top 10 all-time statewide as recently as 2010. The 1983 State outdoor championship meet was a double coronation for Kim, as she added the 100-meter dash crown to the long jump title. She was the first Rockland girl to win two individual events at a single spring State meet, a feat that has been duplicated by only two others (Jen Clayton of Suffern won three, Katelyn Tuohy of North Rockland, two.)

Relay Magic

Sprint relays were another ideal outlet for Kim’s speed and competitiveness. Along with Ramapo teammates Debbie Grant (a fellow Rockland Hall of Famer), Suzette Francois and other notables, she ran on two New York State championship 4×400-meter relay teams, in the 1982 spring and 1983 winter seasons. Kim also contributed to two second-place and two third-place State medalist relay units for the Gryphons, in the 4×100 and 4×200.

That talented group of Ramapo relay sprinters is being honored next month with induction into the Rockland County Track & Field Hall of Fame in the Girls’ Relay category. Kim was an individual inductee in the inaugural class of the Track Hall of Fame in 2004.

Starring at Loucks, Penn Relays, Junior Nationals

The Loucks Games also served as a showcase for Kim’s amazing leaping ability. She thrived on the White Plains long jump runway, taking first place her freshman and senior years, and second and third in her sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. Kim also found great success as a senior at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia with a second-place finish.

After the high school season had concluded, Kim demonstrated her proficiency on the national stage. At the U.S. Junior National championships at Penn State, she finished second to Clair Connor of Rahway, N.J. However, she later defeated Connor to win the long jump in a summer international meet among American, Canadian and Italian junior athletes. She also finished second in a similar three-way international meet that summer.

Team Championships, All-Time Rankings

Closer to home, Kim helped Ramapo to three straight Section 9 outdoor titles (1981-83) and a pair of Rockland County outdoor championships (1982-83). Her Ramapo quartet’s 4×100-meter relay time of 48.1 remained the County record for 27 years and now ranks No. 4 all-time. Her 19-9.5 distance stood as the County record in the outdoor long jump for 26 years and currently rates No. 2 all-time. Her 19-3 indoor long jump was a County record for 18 years and now stands No. 3 all-time.

Kim was coached by Betsy Evans at Spring Valley and by Jim Pollard and Matt Mulligan at Ramapo.

At Houston, a top-tier NCAA Division I program, Kim just missed 20 feet with a 19-11.75. She placed fourth in the Southwest Conference indoor meet, and scored highly in several other major invitationals.

Kim, who is 57, lives in Spring Valley and works as director of medical records at Oakland Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Oakland, N.J. She also serves as jumps coach for the Dominican University track team and has been a Rockland County track & field official for 14 years, giving back to the sport and offering support and expert technical guidance to local jumpers.

Kim has three children: Kaylyn Gordon, 26, a two-time New York State triple jump champion while at Ramapo; Trevon, 25; and Trevonafaith, 20.