I never met Najeeb Echols in person, but from the few interactions I had with him on social media, along with everything I’ve heard about him, he was a tremendous man and an amazing influence on so many athletes and people, both inside and outside the sport of track and field. He was a fantastic role model for his athletes, and an even greater coach. The track & and field community, and so many more are going to miss Najeeb and his enthusiasm for the sport. I thought the best way to display his love for the sport and what he was doing, was to revisit the interview I had the privilege of doing with him back in May.
Najeeb, thank you for everything you did for the sport of track & field, and more importantly, thank you for your impact and influence you had on those around you and the community.
Rest in peace, Najeeb.
When you hear the term “track club”, who do you think of? Bowerman, OAC, Tinman Elite? Toss those scrubs to the side and focus on one of the next best youth clubs in the region, the Whatever It Takes (WIT) track club.
Back in 2019, owner and head coach Najeeb Echols helped create WIT. When creating the club, Echols had the sole purpose of creating a “competitive platform for youth athletes.” The club created a place where athletes can go and both develop and train. Echols himself grew up in the world of sports, playing basketball at the University of Missouri and Illinois State. He even had the chance to play overseas before moving into a different career path. Today, Echols has a career at Farmers Insurance by day and an elite track coach by night. Some of the best athletes in the state compete for WIT, including Olathe East star sprinter, Damiya Richards. Just a sophomore, Richards is one of the top talents in the state. In all of Kansas, she’s run the 5th fastest 100m (12.04) and 14th in the 200m (25.80). Luckily for you guys, we had the chance to learn more about WIT from their founder and one of their first athletes.
The following interviews with Echols and Richards were conducted over Instagram DM’s and email, and were left in their entirety. The first set of five questions were for Echols, and the second set of six questions were for Richards.
1. I know that KSHSAA has several regulations in place about outside coaching in other high school sports. Does KSHSAA have any guidelines that have restricted your ability to coach and train your athletes?
WIT trains all year around as our motto is "There is No Offseason.” We first start fall training from October to November. Then we train and compete during the months of December through March for indoor season. After indoor season, the athletes are prepared to compete with their respective schools right away. Our athletes come back to train and compete with WIT at the conclusion of their school season. We typically have our athletes for a total of 8 to 9 months throughout the year.
2. Do you personally have any history with track & field as an athlete? Where did your passion for track & field come from?
I competed in track and field in elementary and middle school. Throughout my basketball career I utilized track as a foundation for my strength and conditioning training. My daughter found a love for running and competing in track and field and wanted me to coach her, so my passion for the sport comes from my daughter, Jada Echols, and our other core members, Damiya Richards, Avery Dawson, Liv Gutierrez and Kayin Reeves.
3. How have you gotten such phenomenal athletes as members of the club? Do they reach out to you, or is it more of you reaching out to them?
At WIT we train our athletes in house and build them from the ground up. We have also built relationships in the community and between our athletes and the other athletes they compete against in school and during the club seasons. Relationships, online marketing, and word of mouth has been our primary source for recruitment.
4. Five years from now, where do you see “Whatever It Takes” being?
Five years from now I see WIT as one of the prominent track clubs in the nation, training and fostering D1 caliber athletes. We also look forward to expanding into other sports in the next 5 years.
5. What role do you and the club play in the athlete’s lives? Do you coach them during the school year, or are you strictly an off-season club?
Our coaches here at WIT act as mentors and support systems for all of our athletes. We assist in their training, college recruitment and brand management. During the school year our athletes are primarily coached by their school teams, we do not interfere with that process.
1. What made you decide to be an integral part of the “Whatever It Takes” track club back in 2019?
In 2019, I knew that I needed to get in shape if I actually wanted to make it somewhere. For about a year I focused on my endurance to get ready for the actual training.
2. Has your passion always been for track & field, or were there other sports you loved playing while growing up?
I've always been a competitive person, so I always tried to race people in elementary schools and always tried to race my sisters and my parents. I've been loving track ever since I started.
3. What aspect of your training do you think plays the biggest part in your success you’ve seen on the track?
Definitely any type of speed, or reaction time training.
4. How big of a role have your parents played in your development as an athlete?
My parents have helped each and every way they can to get me where I am today. They've helped me with confidence, motivation, and even my speed. They are the reason why I'm here and still running.
5. How do you balance your training between “Whatever It Takes” and Olathe East?
Depending on how the week goes, I try to get the lightest workout outside of school, due to the fact I work out every day at East. I would hate to be overworked during the season.
6. Do you have any routines that you do before every single race?
The day before the meet, I prep, such as stretch, drink as much water as I can, and massages. The day of the meet before my race I do the school warmup to get prepared and I do a couple of exercises and stretches I got from and Muna Lee and CB.
For only being three years old, Whatever It Takes has quickly risen amongst the ranks of youth clubs both in Kansas and the midwest. From what I can tell, they’re only heading up, and if you plan on hopping on, you better buy your ticket now because they’re going to sell out sooner than you think. Najeeb is a man with a mission, and is someone I recommend you hitch your wagon to. He is taking this club and its athletes to the next level with or without you, and he isn’t looking back.