Child Victims Act: Sutera Strange says she was abused by ex-coach poughkeepsiejournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from poughkeepsiejournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Courtesy Marisa Sutera Strange
I am an elite masters runner, specializing in the mile, 5K, and cross country. I’m 57 years old
now, and running has been my salvation for decades. My high school coach abused me more than 40 years ago, and I’m still coming to terms with what happened.
While I was in high school, my favorite event was the 400-meter hurdles. The event was new for girls and a good fit for me, because it used all of my athletic abilities. I found it challenging and fun, and it allowed me to excel.
In 1980, a new assistant track coach appeared, who was also a teacher at the high school, and he seemed to take an interest in me right from the beginning. Running was my whole world at that time, and I was barely more than a child, naive to the world around me. Looking back, I can see how he preyed upon my innocence.