by David Rurik
Three Whitworth athletes were named All-Americans in track and field on Saturday.
Capital University in Ohio played host to the NCAA DIII National Indoor Track and Field Championships. Whitworth sent graduate student Emmanuel Bofa, senior Tonya Turner and freshman Jheri Gates all of whom scored points for the Bucs.
Bofa, who qualified for the championship with the third fastest time in the nation at 1:51.13, became an All-American athlete for the sixth and final time of his college career in his best event, running 1:52.69 in the 800 meter race. The run placed him fourth overall in the competition. Bofa was also chosen as the regional Track Athlete of the Year for the third straight season.
Turner was awarded the female Track Athlete of the Year. Her qualifying time of 5:00.83 in the mile run placed her 13th in the nation going into the National Championships. Turner ran 5:00.90 during Saturday’s Championship placing her seventh in the event and scoring four points for Whitworth.
Gates also scored four for the Bucs, placing seventh in the high jump with a height of 5-5.25 in her first appearance on the national stage.
Also of note is freshman Sam Wright who received the award for regional men’s Field Athlete of the Year. With a season best throw of 52-2 in the shot put Wright is in the top 20 in the nation.
Head coach Toby Schwartz was chosen as the regional men’s Indoor Coach of the Year for the third year in a row. He also received the award as the regional women’s Indoor Coach of the Year.
Both men’s and women’s indoor Assistant Coach of the Year went to Whitworth’s Jeff Rahn.
The Pirates look forward to pressing on into the outdoor season with continued success.