Calesio A. Newman, a track and field athlete that specialized in the 100 & 200 meters, enters his second year with the UNC Pembroke Track & Field programs as an assistant coach in 2024-25. Newman was the 2011 Pan American bronze medalist in the 4x100 meters that was held in Guadalajara, Mexico. He placed 4th in the 2012 Olympic Trials, missing the Olympic Team by 1/100th of a second. Although he missed the Olympic team, Newman went on to be ranked 10th in the world in the 200 meters according to Track and Field News. A a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Newman was a 3x national qualifier in the 100 meter & 200 meter dash. He is a 5x conference champion in the 60, 100 & 200, and a former school record holder in the 60 & 100 meters.
After Newman retired from professional track and field competitions, he accepted the position of Director and Head Coach at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During his tenure, Newman coached Timolisha Swinson in the indoor long jump finishing in 5th place with a jump of 16 '9'’ (5.11m). Samuel Helms took 4th place in the high jump at 6 feet 2 inches (1.87m). In outdoor, Helms had a personal record of 6 '6'’ in the high jump and 23-8 in the long jump, both school records. During the outdoor season, he helped Davon Mitchell to break the 110 hurdle school record with a time of 15.18. Coach Newman helped the men 4x100 to a school record of 43.02 at the 2017 NCHSAA State Championships.
Newman founded Dreamville Express Track and Field Club, later renamed Newman Athletic Academy, a track and field team that helps youth athletes develop basic skills and fundamentals in track and field. Newman coached 11 AAU Junior Olympic qualifiers, six All-Americans and one Relay National Champion. Newman has a specific focus on sprints, hurdles, and jumps. During the 2022 season, Newman developed Bella Ross in the long jump to a personal record of 18’ 3’’ to win regionals in the 14-year-old age group. She also placed top 8 at the Junior Olympics, earning her All-American Honors. In the 2023 season, 13-year-old London Barnes was a 3x indoor All-American. She competed in the 13-year-old division of the 60 meter dash with a time of 8.07. London finished second with a long jump of 15’11’’, earning her All-American honors. London also appeared in the Adidas indoor middle school nationals, finishing 4th with a jump of 15’ 9. 25’’. London’s indoor PR is 16’5’’. During the Junior Olympics, Newman helped London with a leap of 16’8 ¾, making her a Junior Olympic All-American. At Adidas Nationals the foursome that consisted of Rahkeem Faison, Yasear Pearsall, Davonte Hill, and Raysean Hunter ran the 4x100 meter dash. Coach Newman led them to the second fastest time in Adidas Nationals history with a time of 41.65. This feat crowned them as National Champions.
Newman resides in Fayetteville, N.C., and has one daughter, Kaylin McDuffie-Newman (11). He remains committed to building up the community alongside other community leaders. He holds an ISSA personal training certification and a sports stretching certification. Newman is also the Associate Head Trainer at DSDQ (Don’t Stop Don’t Quit) Fitness and weight loss in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Updated: July 2024
