PC Striders
Our Coaching Team
Damien C. Powell, Thd.,
Head Coach
Nikisha (Nikki) Telesco-Wimberly,
Assistant Running Coach
From the Bronx to Hopewell Junction, from The Armory Indoor Track and Field Center in Manhattan (the background of her profile photo) to the Junior Olympics outdoor Nationals, to Mozambique and Nigeria on the African continent, and Panama in Central America--- Coach Nikki is active and involved globally and with her local Mid-Hudson Valley community, and very committed to helping others.
She participated in track and field from fifth grade through college, through involvement with a track club in the Bronx, and helping her children participate in the sport (including a grand-daughter who is only 5 years old).
Her events in her competitive days included sprints, hurdles, and long jump, so her knowledge and enthusiasm for helping the PC Striders athletes achieve their potential and train their bodies and develop a good mental attitude, makes her a wonderful person to meet!
Marisa Caccamo-Wood,
Assistant
Throwing Events and Running Coach
Marisa Caccamo-Wood lives in Fishkill, NY. She was born and raised in New Paltz, NY.
She started her love of track and field in 7th grade at New Paltz Middle School, and continued with track every season at New Paltz High School until she graduated; competing in the 1500 meter run, 3000 meter run, 4x800 relay, and shotput and discus.
She was awarded the Presidential Physical Fitness Award for academic achievement and varsity sport during high school.
She was also a cross country runner in high school as well as participating in the sport of competitive cross country skiing.
Today, she also is a volunteer with a variety of local non profits, including 13 Hands Equine Rescue, Incredible Pups Foster Dog Rescue, and Community Nexus.
Rakim Webb, Assistant running coach
21 year old Rakim Webb is already an experienced sprinter, having started to compete at age 12 and continuing through seasons on Poughkeepsie High School teams, and for the PC Striders after that. While in high school, he earned Section One qualifying plaques, and is the current men's 100m record holder for the Striders.
He enjoys being outside, so it is natural that he has been an Intern and working at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project C.S.A., located at Vassar Farm in the City of Poughkeepsie. He also enjoys playing video games, basketball, football, and helping young people improve their athletic skills.
Matt Korz, Assistant running coach
A resident of the Town of Poughkeepsie, after beginning in his early years with skateboarding, and then later as a proud parent being active with coaching youth teams for baseball, football, basketball- why not move into Track and Field? Coach Korz is supportive and always there for his children, and for all the smiling, hard working athletes, on the PC Striders team.
Peter Van Aken, Throwing Events
​​I live in the City of Poughkeepsie with my wife, Linda Roper.
Marist College school recordholder, men's hammer throw, 1977-present. Qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor national championships in men's hammer throw; 1976, 1977. Men's shotput school recordholder, 1974-1998. Placed 12th (*out of 14 in my age group) in the Men's age 55-59 Throws Pentathlon (5 events) at the World Masters Athletics outdoor Championships, held July 2011, Sacramento, California. "In my twenties", I participated in Decathlon and Outdoor Pentathlon competitions locally and regionally, and three Decathlons I organized and was the meet director for, were hosted at Poughkeepsie High School in 1980, 1982 and 1984.
I am excited to share my experience and understanding of efficient, effective throwing events technique, to all athletes. Currently, I volunteer with the indoor and outdoor throwing events program for the boys and girls on the varsity track and field teams at F.D. Roosevelt high school in Hyde Park, where I have advised and helped the last two boy's and girl's school record holders, in the indoor 25 lb. and 20 lb. Weight Throw. The boy's Weight Throw school record holder, advised and trained by me, finished third in the NYS high school indoor championships Weight Throw event in 2022, and qualified for two indoor high school national championships and the New Balance outdoor high school national championship, in the 12 lb. hammer throw event.
Because of my continued interest in the throwing events, I am delighted to volunteer my time to give encouragement and guidance for achieving improved throwing events distances in competition, and also teaching basic technique to beginners, for the young age-group athletes of the highly successful PC Striders AAU/USATF year-round program.