Coach Charlie Lester returned to coaching after a 14-year hiatus. This was only to coach and be a personal trainer of a high school 110M hurdler. After a 4-month training period with him, this athlete became NYS Section 3, Loucks Games and NYS High School 110H Champion, as well as a 2022 New Balance National hurdle finalist. During the 2022 NYS High School track and field Championships Lester was besought to join the SUNY Oswego track & field and cross country staff. After some careful consideration Lester consented to joining the Oswego Lakers staff.
In fall 2022, Lester was officially hired as the Assistant Coach for Sprints, Hurdles and Relays. However, he entered his second and third years, the 2023 and 2024 seasons,
respectively, with only responsibilities for sprints and relays. Coach Lester’s sage leadership, guidance, mentorship and reputed prowess in coaching enabled the Laker sprinters to make significant improvements in their respective events. Lester opines that, “Our Laker team is comprised of brilliant and uniquely gifted young women and men, who are truly determined, dedicated and disciplined in efforts to make positive impacts on our lives, team, sport and communities.” Lester also says, “We are indeed blessed and grateful for the opportunity to, with administrative assistance and endowed support, develop and sustain an environment where Oswego student athletes can flourish and achieve the utmost success in
all of their collegiate endeavors.”
During the 2022 - 2024 indoor and outdoor seasons individual Laker sprinters and relays runners qualified for competition at the SUNYAC and Regional Championships. In process of
these athletic achievements, new personal bests were established, several school records were surpassed and even more records are in serious jeopardy of being eclipsed this year. Coach Lester and the Lakers affirm with their undying commitment to consistent hard work, herculean effort, good work ethic, unwavering faith and outstanding character that all things are possible. Having said this, we are ecstatically over about our team. We are also extremely excited about our team’s prospects and potentialities for our upcoming 2024-2025 season. “What is in store for us, we cannot begin to imagine!” Go Lakers!! Prior to joining Oswego, Lester enjoyed a more than 25-year volunteer coaching career as Lead Coach and Executive Principal of the Central New York Impalas Athletics Club. The Impalas was primarily a local youth development track and field team, which developed and guided youngsters to many local, Regional, State and National Championship competitions, finals and medals. However, perhaps a more enduring legacy of the Impalas was its nurturing and guiding a generation of Syracuse area youth to make healthier lifestyle choices. In addition, supporting and encouraging each youngster to endeavor to pursue higher education.
Coach Lester’s coaching credentials include the USA Track and Field (USATF) Level II Coaches certification in Sprints, Hurdles & Relays and Jumps. He is also certified in the same event
areas for training pre-Elite Olympic athletes by the US Olympic Committee (USOC). In addition, recently Lester earned technical certification for all track and field events by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Written by Coach Charlie Lester
