Biography
By Jim Hague
Justin Booker is a very ambitious young man, especially when it comes to making money. The Rutgers-Newark junior is majoring in finance and hopes to secure an internship this summer, working in the field of investment trading or banking.
For the last eight months, Booker was also hard at work as a blackjack dealer at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City.
“I would go down on a Friday night and work from about 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.,” said Booker, a graduate of Absegami High School in southern New Jersey. “I would then come back up for track meets in the morning, because track is definitely my passion. And then I would go back and work Saturdays and Sundays.”
Talk about your grueling schedule. Through it all, Booker was also trying to be a solid member of the Scarlet Raiders’ fledgling track and field program, but the results weren’t positive.
“He came out for the team last year, but I could see that he wasn’t totally gifted and he wasn’t totally focused,” Rutgers-Newark track and field coach Juan Edney said. “He wasn’t putting forth the effort that was necessary. He always had all kinds of excuses of why he couldn’t work out. Sometimes, Justin wouldn’t even show up. He couldn’t succeed that way.”
Finally, Edney and Booker had a little heart-to-heart talk.
“Basically, I told him that he couldn’t settle for second best,” Edney said. “I told him that he had the potential to do some good things, but he was never going to know until he tried. I told him that if he didn’t give himself every opportunity to get better, he was going to regret it for the rest of his life.”
Booker had to make a tough choice. He had to decide whether he wanted to make the most out of track and field or make the money that came with being a casino employee. He chose track.
“It was a tough choice, because it was good money,” Booker said. “The money is what kept me going back and forth. I resigned the position. It was a very interesting experience, but it was a struggle to do both. It took a lot out of me, so I decided to concentrate on track.”
Since that time, Booker has become nearly obsessed with workouts and training.
“Once he finally decided that he wanted to get better, he’s taken the challenge head on,” Edney said. “He’s there every day working on his strength and flexibility. That’s what you need on the college level. He’s been also leading the group in workouts, getting the younger guys to get on the right path. He’s putting his heart into it, not just words and emotion. He’s a very focused young man, but he wasn’t focused on track. Now, he’s definitely focused.”
The results have been unbelievable. Booker now holds the school record in the triple jump. He has been part of the Scarlet Raiders 4X400 relay team and just last week, ran a 50.6 split in his 400-meter portion of the relay.
“I have to say that I’m very impressed,” Edney said. “He just keeps working at it, plugging away and getting better and better. His jumping has improved because his legs are stronger and he’s not hurt as often as he was. His running has also gotten stronger. He’s really doing well.
Added Edney, “He’s completely different than he was last year. He doesn’t miss a beat and does everything that we ask of him. As a coach, he’s the kind of kid who makes you feel good, because something just clicked in him and now it’s paying off.”
Booker can sense the difference.
“Putting in the extra work has made me well rounded,” Booker said. “I knew I could be a better competitor and I knew that I was going to be a crucial member of the team this year, so I had to step it up. I definitely feel it now. My body is getting stronger. I’m putting on more weight. It’s all really come together for me.”
It has also helped Booker from the mental aspect of the sport.
“I would always question myself and wonder if I could really do it,” Booker said. “Now, it has given me more confidence and makes me want to work even harder.”
Booker also enjoys the relationship he has developed with his coach.
“In the beginning, I didn’t believe what he was saying to me,” Booker said. “I doubted every word he was telling me. But now, the great part is that we trust each other now. I now do what he tells me. I owe everything to Coach Edney. And it’s not just track. We’ve become very close and I can talk to him about anything. We talk about other things other than track. It’s been a big help.”
So Justin Booker, the blackjack dealer, is a part of ancient history. Justin Booker, the track and field athlete, is just scratching the surface.
“He still has a long way to go, but he’s come a long way,” Edney said. “What he’s done just makes me feel happy. He’s getting good results.”
As for his blackjack days?
“The odds are always in favor of the dealer anyway,” Booker said. “A lot of people lose.”
Right now, Justin Booker is focused on winning-- and that focus is paying huge profits for the Scarlet Raiders.
