SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University has been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for one of the great seasons in school history with three of the four men's West Region awards.
Toby Schwarz was presented with the USATFCCCA Men's West Region Head Coach of the Year award, Gary Baskett was given the Men's West Region Assistant Coach of the Year award and Emmanuel Bofa is the Men's West Region Track Athlete of the Year. The awards were officially presented at the USATFCCCA Awards Banquet last Wednesday prior to the start of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Schwarz, in his 11th season coaching the Pirate track and field teams, led the Whitworth men to the Northwest Conference title this season. Eight Pirates qualified to compete at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, five of whom earned All-America honors. Bofa and Cody Stelzer (high jump) won individual national championships. It is the second time Schwarz has earned the men's West Region Coach of the Year award (also in 2001). Baskett, in his second season on the Whitworth coaching staff, coached Jeff Kintner to Northwest Conference championships in the discus and shot put, and Joey VanHoomissen to a conference title in the javelin. Kintner went on to place fourth in the shot put at the NCAA Championships, while Kory Kemp was fourth and Alex Hymel was eighth in the javelin.
Bofa earned an NCAA title in the 800 meter run over the weekend. Over the course of the season he broke Whitworth's school record twice and ended the season with the second fastest 800 meter time (1:50.74) this season at the NCAA Division III level. He was also part of Whitworth's conference championship 4x400 relay. The Whitworth men followed up their 2008 Northwest Conference title with a third place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships. The third place finish ties the 2005 men's soccer team for best finish by a Pirate squad in an NCAA Championship setting. It is also the highest finish by a team from the Northwest Conference since Pacific Lutheran's men finished second at the 1999 NCAA Division III championships. The 2008 USATFCCCA West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year went to George Fox University decathlete Ben Dillow. Go to Athletics Home Page >> Track & Field >> Sports Releases >> |
