(EDITOR’S NOTE - This is the second in a series of articles that will appear in the Times News on Thursdays during the summer, highlighting former area coaches and athletes as they reflect on their careers and discuss their current endeavors.)

In high school, Jim Thorpe head track and field coach Frank Miller realized Kareem Mickens had the characteristics to serve in a management role in his future.

There were plenty of signs back then that Mickens could someday even be an entrepreneur.

Mickens took his first steps on his successful stream when he won gold in the 400, and was a member of the team’s winning 400 relay team at the District 11 Class 2A track and field meet in 2010. Mickens also was a basketball and cross country standout, and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

“Kareem was a team leader for us,” said Miller. “Ability and personality made it a natural fit for him. His hard work led him to his development as the 2A 400 meter champion. That passion continued for him through college, and into his current professional life.”

Fast forward 13 years later, and Mickens is bringing home the gold in yet another way as an auspicious businessman. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Mickens currently operates two business ventures, both geared toward the sport he loves.

Mickens also has been training to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris for his native country of Liberia.

He certainly is someone with a full plate.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Mickens. “I enjoy being busy, and the challenges ahead. Whatever I do, I do it the best I can. This was a vision God gave me, and it made a lot of sense.

“It has been pretty cool so far to start my own business. It was something I always wanted to do.”

In July, 2022, he began “Sprintman Athletic Apparel (www.sprintman.com.co),” which is athletic apparel that Mickens describes as “having a unique style that enables athletes to express themselves and be who they are.”

“I realize there are a lot of athletic apparel brands out there, but I wanted to develop a line that would specifically revolve around the sport of track and field,” said Mickens. “Most companies don’t focus on track and field. For me, this is the sport I know very well, and the sport I wanted to focus on exclusively.”

Soon after, he initiated “Chase Your Dreemz Athletics,” focusing on training track and field athletes to maximize their potential to develop their competitive aspirations at every level - including training for the Olympics. Mickens worked closely with Under Armour designer Chris English to create his specific line.

“We have pants, shorts and hoodies that are designed for track athletes,” said Mickens. “Chris was a big inspiration to design our look. We have been stocking our products, and we will be working to unveil some more along the way.”

A 2017 Keystone College graduate, Mickens has stayed close to his Scranton roots to help train athletes. He served as an assistant coach there for two years, while he also signed with a professional management group - sponsored by Nike London - to race overseas as a sprinter.

“The experience was pretty cool,” said Mickens. “It came from networking and knowing other athletes like my former college teammate Brian Slater, who ran for the US Virgin Islands at that time. He put me onto it.

“It was a special experience leaving the country for the first time ever, and it was for track and field. It was awesome and somewhat bittersweet at the same time. I thought I could do it prior in 2014, but I still had tears in my eyes when the flight took off.

“This was a truly cool experience being able to race against athletes who I saw on TV. A lot of those guys are not as intimidating as they seem, as they are nice people. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world. It wasn’t easy to do, and it was something special.”

Before he embarked on his venture, Mickens gained some business experience as a customer service rep, an account manager, and an insurance broker.

Mickens’ company agreed to terms for NIL (name, image and likeness) deals with recent high school graduates Luke Pikulski, of Scranton, and Dylan Cassetori, of Holy Redeemer, both of whom will continue their careers in college.

He has kept the pipeline to the Scranton area flowing, training athletes from the area when he can. In Texas, Mickens has recruited a class of over 40 athletes, including current Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick, who is a University of Texas-San Antonio graduate.

Upon his graduation, Mickens began to train athletes on his own time, but soon discovered that he could develop it further.

“I used to train athletes every Sunday afternoon, and do it for some extra cash,” he said. “It was intended to be something small that I could do on the side, but it soon was networked well. I knew it could be bigger.”

Mickens has discovered how challenging it can be wearing two different business hats simultaneously, but the 31-year-old eagerly awaits all of the challenges.

“I am getting more athletes to train, and the business on the website has been picking up,” he boasted. “For me, it is about doing my research and studying how to hone my craft.

“This is a good time because things are starting to boom, and we have adjusted well.”

Through all this, Mickens hasn’t forgotten his hometown roots. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to the Jim Thorpe area after spending 15 years in New York. In New York and Pennsylvania, Mickens always was interested in working on his own.

“When I was a young kid, I would salt sidewalks for five dollars and shovel snow for 10 dollars,” said Mickens. “In high school, I thought about how to make my own dollar, and wasn’t sure what an entrepreneur was. Once I did, I knew I wanted to go that route.

“In high school, I wanted to pursue business, but I was young and naive. I left high school uncertain, and thought I could figure it out in college. The spirit of entrepreneurship took over.”

On the track in high school, Mickens remembered the district meet and how engrossed he was in capturing the 400 championship. He won the Schuylkill League 400 title in 51.70.

He was seeded second to Bethlehem Catholic’s Robert Leeson, and that proved to be enough incentive. Mickens finished first in a time of 50.90, and Leeson was fourth in 51.90.

“There was some smack talk from the Bethlehem Catholic kids, and I was laser-focused,” recalled Mickens. “I told myself that I wasn’t going to allow him to beat me. I remember looking back at him before the race, and that was the last time I saw him.

“I ran hard, and then I did the ‘Dougie’ after I won. I didn’t know it could be considered taunting.”

Miller knew Mickens’ celebration wasn’t appropriate, but he has seen the big picture with him over the years.

“He did a little dance that almost disqualified him,” said Miller. “The energy and excitement he has for track and field was displayed after he won the 400.

“We had an opportunity a few years back for him to work with some of our student-athletes, and his coaching procedures are super strong for a young coach in his profession. Overall, he is a great, enjoyable person who will be super-successful in his life.”

Longtime high school friend Carl St. Hill - who won the district 100, 200 and was on the gold medal 1600 relay - recounted how the two met, shared a Brooklyn bond, and nearly parted friends over Mickens’ record.

“I didn’t give him the chance to be the new kid in school, and he was kind of mad about it,” said St. Hill. “But being that we both came from Brooklyn, we already had that bond.

“He was more of a basketball player, and I was football. We both decided to run track, and Jim Thorpe’s team wasn’t all that. Both of us really helped build that team to what it is today.”

St. Hill objected to running Mickens’ race.

“Coach Miller made me run the 400 in one race, and I broke “Reemz” - that’s what I call him - 400 record he set numerous times our senior year. I didn’t want to run the race. Kareem was so upset, but it really didn’t faze him. He worked harder, and got his record back the next race.”

St. Hill has watched his grit and determination resonate through the years.

“Kareem is dedicated and when his mind is set, he does it, no matter how long it takes,” said St. Hill. “His hard work, dedication, and blood, sweat, and tears made him the business man he is. And there is no stopping him.

“I love him to death, and nothing but greatness will be next to him.”

Mickens also is in training for the 2024 Olympics, and he could run the 200, 400 and the first leg of the 400 relay for Liberia. He had been sidelined with a torn tendon. Mickens has been working with former longtime San Antonio Spurs trainer Bremond “Bay Bay” McClinton.

Whatever happens, Mickens plans to stay the course.

“All in all, it is going well,” he said. “We want to tap into the track and field culture. We’re learning how this goes, and we’re getting repeat customers. We’re expecting it to be exponential in a few years.

“This is what I love to do. I’m pursuing my dream, and I encourage all athletes and everyone else to do the same.”