July 5, 2023

The New Jersey Senate presented a resolution honoring Cheickna Traore ’23 for his decorated track career at Ramapo College. New Jersey Senate president Nicholas P. Scutari (D-22) read the resolution on the senate floor at the June 26 session, which included celebrating how Traore “has continually upheld the highest standards of character and sportsmanship while demonstrating his extraordinary abilities and unwavering commitment, and as a result of his meritorious efforts in pursuit of excellence, he has instilled a tremendous sense of pride in his fellow athletes and coaches, his family, and his community.”

“I am pleased to honor Cheicka Traore for his outstanding athletic and academic achievements at the Ramapo College of New Jersey.  His commitment to the Track & Field program, his teammates and the College embody the value of public education in the State of New Jersey.  We wish him much success in his career as he channels the focus and drive he has developed at Ramapo to his future career,” shared Scutari on Traore’s track career.

“I feel absolutely honored to receive this resolution from the Senate President Scutari. I felt such a sense of pride representing Ramapo College while receiving this award,” said Traore. “This was a once in a lifetime experience, and I couldn’t have been more thankful to receive this award with my coach as well as some integral members of the athletic staff that have gotten me to where I am. It was a surreal experience receiving such a high honor, and to me, it really exemplified what Ramapo College enabled me to achieve, and for that I will always be so grateful.”

Traore broke five NCAA Division III records during his tenure and currently holds three in the Indoor and Outdoor 200m, and the All-Time Indoor 300m. He is a seven-time All-American, garnered six New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, among many other accomplishments and records in the NJAC and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Ramapo Cross-Country and Track and Field Coach Justina Casavell witnessed the explosion in Traore’s athleticism throughout the years. “It has been one of the biggest highlights of my career watching Cheickna develop into such an incredible sprinter. I couldn’t be more proud. I look forward to Cheickna’s career over the next few years and knowing he will always be grateful for his years as a roadrunner at Ramapo College.”

Interim Athletics Director Jan Koslowsky knows that Traore embodies what it means to be a student athlete. “He is grounded by his teammates, coaches and his family which carries with him as he competes at a high level.  For all the student-athletes that have come before him and those that will follow, Cheickna will leave a legacy that will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.  I have had the honor of watching him compete, as he will forever be part of the Roadrunner family.”

At Ramapo, Traore holds all three outdoor open sprint records at Ramapo College in the 100m, 200m and 400m races, and the 60m, 200m, 300m, 400m, 500m records on the indoor track. He also is a part of the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relay team school records. “Cheickna is a generational talent,” said Ackeme Brown, cross-country and track & field assistant coach. “We’ve known since his first practice that he could be special, but what he has done over the last two years is beyond even my expectations. I can stand here today and say with my head held high that we’ve coached arguably one of the greatest track athlete in NCAA Division III history.”