When Linden, New Jersey resident and LIU Brooklyn graduate, Mica-Jonathan Petit-Homme, 22, a NCAA’s First Team Track & Field All American and Northeast Conference Scholar- Athlete of the Year, competed for Haiti in the 400-meter hurdles at the North America, Central America and Caribbean Under-23 Championships in El Salvador on July 17, 2016, his heart was heavy. Sadly, neither his mother Yvrose, who passed away in 2012, nor his father, Antoine, who were themselves recreational runners, lived to witness his achievement. Since he arrived from Port au Prince, Haiti in 2003, at the age of 9, Petit-Homme wanted to represent his native country at the Olympics. Before his father died in 2014, Petit-Homme promised him that he would compete for Haiti in the Olympics.
Like many Olympian hopeful, Petit-Homme’s journey was fraught with challenges, and he has experienced and continues to experience a kaleidoscope of emotions. The loss of his parents within such a short period could have derailed Petit-Homme’s ambitions, but fortuitously for Petit-Homme and LIU Brooklyn caring people embraced him.
Monty Brooks, a social worker and track coach in the Linden School District, and Walter Martin, a former Linden, New Jersey, Track Hall of Famer, took Petit-Homme under their wings and mentored him through Linden High School and LIU Brooklyn. Martin and his wife, Ruthie have become Petit-Homme’s surrogate parents.
As a Seventh-Day Adventist, Petit-Homme participated in church-related activities from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Although he missed track meets in high school, he wanted to compete in college, earn a scholarship and keep his promise to his father.
The track meet at which Simon Hodnett, LIU Brooklyn’s track coach, was to consider Petit- Homme for his team was scheduled to be held on a weekend, but because of inclement weather, the meet was postponed to Monday. Coach Hodnett liked what he saw and considered whether to offer Petit-Homme a scholarship. Unfortunately, Monday track meets are not the norm. Brooks candidly informed Petit-Homme that he could not hope to receive an athletic scholarship if he refused to compete on the weekend. How could Petit-Homme honor his promise to his dad, realize his dream and practice his religion?
Faith is a powerful partner. Petit-Homme reasoned that God would not have bestowed gifts upon him if He did not want them to be used. After much soul searching and reflection, Petit- Homme arrived at a solution that enabled him to practice his religion and use his God-given athletic gifts. He listens to Seventh-Day Adventist services on the Internet, attends church and participates in ministries and church activities when his competition schedule permits.
In 2016 Petit-Homme, who speaks English, French, Creole and Spanish, not only earned his bachelor’s degree in sports science with a 3.49 cumulative GPA, but he made NCAA First Team All American, becoming only the fourth LIU Brooklyn student-athlete in the school’s track & field history to secure this honor. As a result of his college academic and athletic records Petit- Homme was selected North East Conference Men’s Outdoor Track Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Petit-Homme excelled at LIU Brooklyn, but to realize his dream and fulfill his promise, he needed to get Haiti’s attention. Martin decided to retain an attorney to aid the cause. After she heard Petit-Homme’s story, Beverly Williams, an attorney with the Herbert Law Group, LLC in Englewood, New Jersey and the author of Get the Job Done, an employment advice book, agreed to handle the case pro bono. Thanks to sage advice from Bill Daughtry of ESPN, Williams contacted the Haiti’s Consul General’s office in New York City about Petit-Homme’s record, and received a prompt response of interest.
Thereafter, Williams kept the Consul General’s office up to date about Petit-Homme’s progress. On July 17, 2016 Petit-Homme represented his native Haiti at the North America, Central America and Caribbean Under-23 Championships in El Salvador. Unfortunately, his time didn’t get him to the Olympics, but he wore the uniform of his beloved Haiti when competed in El Salvador. His father would have been proud.
(above) Mica-Jonathan Petit-Homme
