High school coed has bright future

Monday, December 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) _ While Poteau High School students were in class Friday morning, tending to their studies and making plans for the weekend, one of their own was on a jet headed for the Big Apple.

Senior Latasha Steele left recently for a weekend visit to Manhattan College, just north of New York City. Manhattan College is a private institution with a proud track and field tradition, competing at the Division I level. She'll be working out with her prospective teammates during the visit before returning home.

Manhattan's track and field coach, Joe Ryan, wants Steele to compete on his team next year, and is hoping to offer Steele a combination of athletic and academic scholarships and other aid that will pay her college expenses in full.

``I think Latasha could be a real find for us,'' said Ryan. ``Athletically, she reminds me of Aliann Tompey, a member of our team who is the NCAA indoor champion in the 400-meter event and represented Guyana at the Sydney Olympics.''

But Ryan says it's Steele's academic talents that make her especially attractive to top academic institutions.

``She's a tremendous academic student,'' he said. ``When you put her academic skills together with her athletic ability, that's a pretty special package.''

Steele's resume is impeccable, both on and off the track. She's the reigning state champion in the 100-meter dash, and placed at the state meet all four years of her high school career while competing in the 200-meter dash, 4X100 sprint relay and mile relay.

And she's just as tough to catch in the classroom, with a 4.0 grade-point average for all four years at Poteau High School. She's on pace to share valedictorian honors for her class.

That kind of performance in the classroom explains why other top academic institutions, such as Notre Dame and Ivy-League Columbia University, hope to add Steele to their student body.

``I've had her all four years for track,'' said Poteau track and field coach Earl Jobe. ``But what makes her special is that she's such a good student.''

Steele hopes to pursue a course of study with heavy emphasis on the sciences in college, according to David Stone, who has her in his Physiology and Biology II classes this semester.

``Latasha's just a real special student,'' said Stone. ``I think a key for her is that she's very focused. She works at Tote-A-Poke at night and is still able to excel at all the other things in her life. She's got a great sense of humor and a great work ethic.''

``She's just the kind of girl that everyone likes, students and teachers alike.''

Steele attributes her work ethic to the added responsibilities she's had growing up.

``I've always been independent,'' she said. ``My mom (Diana Steele) died when I was nine and my brother D.J. was just two years old, so I had to grow up faster than some kids.''

She says her father, Daryle, who ran track at the University of Oklahoma, is excited about her success.

``My dad thinks it's great,'' she said. ``He wants me to take advantage of all the opportunities I've earned.''

Most area students who go to college stay within the state, but Steele says in undaunted by the possibility of attending college so far from home.

``I'm excited,'' she said. ``It's a good chance to get out and see a little of the world. I do have an uncle in Boston, but no other family closer than Poteau. But I was born in a big city (Houston), so I don't think I'd be intimidated.''