SULLIVAN COUNTY – Across the spectrum of athletics in Sullivan County’s school districts, there is no shortage of fine athletes. Numerous award winners, school MVP’s and other standouts in their respective sports have been celebrated at each school’s spring award ceremonies over the past week or two. But when it came to the choice of naming the Sullivan County Democrat Outstanding Athletes of Spring 2023, the remarkable performances and achievements of Tri-Valley’s Adam Furman and Monticello’s Taina DeJesus clearly showed their unique worthiness for this exalted honor. 

To be an exceptional athlete requires far more than talent. To reach a pinnacle of success, an athlete has to manifest exemplary character, self-discipline, perseverance and an unshakeable intention to become the best he or she is capable of becoming. For each of these two fine young citizens, this spring honor represents the culmination of outstanding careers. And for each, this milestone also augurs promise for more success at the next level. 

Adam Furman

Throughout his remarkable career, Adam Furman, Tri-Valley’s iconic distance runner, has recorded so many noteworthy achievements. 

Each season has brought new milestones including an astounding spiral of personal records (PR’s). His resolve and inimitable ability to constantly summon his best resulted this spring in the breaking of school records in the 1600 and 3200 that have been on the books for 33 years. 

Within a week of each other, Furman broke Kristian Agnew’s 1990 school records in the 3200 with a time of 9:11.15 set at states after first breaking the record at the Tri-Valley Invitational. Furman proceeded to break Agnew’s 1600 mark with a blistering 4:13.43. 

He recalls the shattering of the 1600 as his proudest moment up until his 5000-meter performance at Franklin Field in Philadelphia at the New Balance Nationals. 

He references the highlight of his season as his eighth-place time of 15:02.17, the fastest in New York State according to Milesplit. “I was happy with my time. I was trying to break 15.00, but considering I never ran it before, I wasn’t quite sure how to pace it. I think it opened a new vista as to how I see running and how I see track. That’s as far as you can go in high school, but not as far as you can go in college.” 

Furman is now at West Point where he will run cross-country as well as indoor and outdoor track. Furman hopes to run the 5000 there in outdoor track. 

“The farther I go, the better I can run,” he avers. 

To prepare for Nationals, Coach and Dad Chip Furman had Adam run 4x800s and 4x400s at the pace that he would run his 5K. Prior to that, Adam was happy with his second-place Division II performance in the 3200 championships at states (seventh place in Federation standings) wherein he broke his own record with a time of 9:11.15. He also medaled in the Division II 1600. 

Prior to states, Furman had recorded his second consecutive win at the OCIAA championship followed by Section IX Class D titles in the 800, 1600 and 3200. In retrospect, Furman was very happy with his high school career. 

“Two years ago when I was running, these times didn’t even seem like they were possible,” he said. “I’m used to it now, but I would never have imagined I’d be running like this.”

In addition to his uncanny success in running, which places him by many track insiders as the greatest male runner in Tri-Valley’s storied history, Furman’s exemplary character, talent and perseverance have manifested in other areas as well. 

An accomplished musician, Furman plays clarinet and piano. “I don’t play clarinet much anymore because I had to drop band in order to take physics, a requirement for West Point. I had been in band since fourth grade. I’ve been playing piano since I was four. I play just about anything you can think of. I don’t take lessons anymore because of my concentration on running but I was in the jazz band this year. I was brought up on Classical Music.” 

Furman continued, “I’ll always have music in my life. It’s something I hope to teach my kids someday. It teaches you discipline as practice can be tedious as it is in running.”

Adam is an Eagle Scout. “Scouting teaches you not to give up on anything. I think that’s why I’ve been so successful.” 

In fifth grade, Adam crossed over from cub scouts to scouts. “Once you move up it gets better, the same thing as in running and how I expect it will be at West Point.” 

All these experiences have combined to build the character that will serve Furman for life, especially in the capacity to push through all adversity. 

Being a three-season runner requires dealing with a multitude of challenges. Clearly, Adam’s epic performances leading to an individual and team Cross-Country titles in the fall followed by great times and victories in winter, led up to the spring zenith. 

Asked what advice Furman would give to a young runner considering entering the sport. “First, consider how good you can become because the limits are endless. We have such a good program and such great coaches that you can achieve so much more than you imagine. Once you decide to do it, make it hurt every day. Don’t ever settle.” 

Furman knows that pushing yourself through exhaustion and pain is the price to achieving success. He credits teammate Craig Costa as the shining example of that. 

“The dedication he has is so impressive,” Furman notes. “You don’t want to finish races and be dissatisfied.” 

Even in his junior year at states when he didn’t finish quite as well as he had imagined, he knew he had given his all. 

When it comes to support, Furman has been blessed with a remarkable family. 

“Without family I wouldn’t be where I am, especially my Dad.” 

Chip Furman returned to coach at Tri-Valley primarily because of his three kids Adam, Van and Anna. He brought a newfound seriousness and intention to the task enriched by his own iconic experience in high school and college. 

“He knows so much more about my limits than I do. My mom Julie is always happy with me even when I’m not satisfied. She is the constant affirming force. My brother Van and sister Anna will be great. I’ll be watching them while I’m in college.” 

Adam reluctantly admits having mixed feelings about Van breaking his records but, he hopes he does well. “His goals are to break my records and that seems to be his main focus. The goals that I had went way past the school records.” 

Realistically speaking though, Adam realizes that some goals are not always reached.

Going to West Point was Adam’s dream. He was impressed by the prestige of the institution, something which was strengthened by his visit. 

“I knew this was the real deal,” he reflected. 

Furman expects that his overall experience there will greatly prepare him for life. Though he knows it will be an immense challenge, he is confident that he will come through it even stronger and more determined that ever. As he joins the other 1200 new cadets at the United States Military Academy, that aspiration and intention will ring no doubt powerfully true. 

Adam Furman is destined to be beyond great in his career aspirations in either business or engineering. Whatever he chooses to pursue, one thing is eminently clear. Adam Furman is earmarked to be uniquely outstanding.

Taina DeJesus

To characterize the grace, style and beauty of Taina DeJesus sailing over the 400 hurdles on her way to state glory would be to say that her performance is simply poetry in motion. 

DeJesus capped off her epic high school career with two state medals in the 400 hurdles. After claiming fourth in the Division I race, she came back the next day to finish sixth in the Federation championship race recording a personal best of 1:03.67 in the D1 race and surpassing that with a PR of 1:03.62. 

Talented, intense, focused and extremely competitive are the main attributes that have fueled a remarkable athletic career that hearkens back to her formative experiences in Monticello Gymnastics with coach Pedro Tweed and her Tae Kwon Do tutelage under Master William Young. 

Some children show an early predilection for movement coupled with an aptitude for learning. She is a prime example.  

DeJesus has been strongly encouraged by her dad José and cheered on by her mom Lisette. Her father has been key in steering her towards her athletic endeavors. 

First came gymnastics, which she engaged in from ages four through nine, excelling in both the bar and floor exercises. From nine to 16 she turned her attention to Tae Kwon Do which was also her dad’s idea. 

Initially somewhat resistant, DeJesus notes “I thought the contact was not for me.” 

But the discipline and training turned out to be great preparation for what would become her first love, namely competing in the hurdles at Monticello High School. 

“I think my love of the sport began when I was running in practices for Tae Kwon Do on the Liberty track. I remember beating my brother and other boys when I was ten or 11.” 

Then in sixth grade while playing capture the flag with friend Meg Cruz and surpassing the speed of many of the boys, they were noticed by track coach Matt Buddenhagen, who subsequentially urged them to join indoor track in eighth grade. 

She quickly tested up to varsity along with Cruz, but when the latter got hurt, she found herself to be the only eighth grader on varsity. She immediately expressed interest in the 55 hurdles and in spring, the 100 hurdles and eventually the 400  hurdles. 

“I thought I would be better in the 400 H and for the past two years that has been the case.” DeJesus thrives on competition. “The greater the challenge, the happier I am.” 

Speaking about the 400 hurdles she notes, “Some coaches emphasize counting steps between hurdles but that for me is a distraction. For me the flow is more natural. I love to get out fast and I find that the steps just line up.” 

DeJesus notes that form is more important in the 100 hurdles. Pictures of her in that event show her form to be impeccable. Buddenhagen taught DeJesus a great deal about hurdling. 

She also looked to Monti standout hurdler Noah Rogers who was a senior when she was in the eighth grade. 

“I do my own research too including watching videos about technique, exercises and drills.” 

But much of learning a skill is about trial and error. DeJesus possesses the mindset to be a strong competitor. “I’ve always been that way,” she maintains.  

When it comes to adversity, DeJesus has had her share. First, Covid-19 hit late in her freshman year. “That was my peak season as compared to the sophomore and junior years that followed.”  

Coming back, DeJesus admits that she had lost her competitive mindset. During indoor season of her junior year, she incurred a right hip injury while working on the 55 hurdles. She used the two weeks between indoor and outdoor track to recover. 

Then this year she aggravated her right quadricep during indoor practice. Again, as before, right before winter break, she left in pain and needed that two-week hiatus. The good news was she came back free of pain after a regimen of rest and ice. 

Ever since, she has been very aware of the quad issue, even at states. That causes anticipation before running. In the 100 hurdles, she had lost to Cornwall’s Caigan Leonard a year ago. 

“I was progressing but was shocked to see her running the 400 hurdles as well. The first time I lost to her in the 400 hurdles, but I did get my time down to a new PR. I focused less on beating her and more on my own time. I needed that challenge to make it to states.” 

DeJesus had already met the state standard. Finishing second in the state qualifier punched her ticket to states. Leonard and Emilene Clark had already made the state super standard, so they were already qualified. Leonard allowed DeJesus to finish second so that she could qualify as well. “That was great sportsmanship. I would have done the same for her.” 

DeJesus has won an athletic scholarship to attend Division I Central Connecticut State University, a school in the Northeastern Conference. There she plans to major in psychology with a minor in exercise science. 

“I’m interested in the mental aspect of sports,” she declares. 

DeJesus has the most abject determination. “I never wanted to quit.” 

She characterizes her overall experience at Monticello as great. “It’s been amazing not just on track. I’ve made a family with current and past Monti athletes. The support at the school has been incredible. I’ve had great coaches and they’ve pushed me. Each one played a part.” 

She is referring of course to Matt Buddenhagen, Rick Sternkopf, Joe Seidl and Brian McAveny. This year Seidl helped her immensely in the 400 hurdles. She really responded to the way he coached and handled the practice and the meets. McAveny was a great sprint coach. He has made a summer workout routine for her to follow prior to starting at the college level that includes weight training, something she has always wanted to add. 

DeJesus has clearly profited from many other support networks including the positivity from her two older brothers and older sister. Certainly, her seven years in Tae Kwon Do that ultimately earned her a second-degree black belt contributed much to her perseverance, stamina and determination to succeed. Taina DeJesus was not only an integral part of Monticello’s cross-country, indoor and outdoor seasons. 

Moreover, she excelled with her superb performances at the OCIAA, Sectionals, state qualifier and winning two medals at states. Given her courageous efforts that included coming back from injuries and her amazing finishes at states, Taina DeJesus truly proved herself worth of the honor of being named as one of the two 2023 Sullivan County Democrat Outstanding Athletes of the Spring. Given her mindset and fierce competitive nature, success at the next level is bound to be forthcoming.