Aug. 22, 2008

>>Jenn Stuczynski, Roberts Wesleyan College (N.Y.), Track & Field
Roberts Wesleyan alum Jenn Stuczynski (2004) out-jumped 10 of her 11 Olympic competitors in Beijing to capture the silver medal in the women’s pole-vaulting finals. Stuczynski’s rival Yelena Isibaeva cleared 5.05m – another world record for the Russian – besting Stuczynski’s 4.80m, to win the gold. Stuczynski, a Fredonia (N.Y.) native and former Roberts Wesleyan Raider basketball star, is the first Olympic medalist in school history...Click here for official results.

>>Bryan Clay, Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Track & Field
Clay graduated from Azusa Pacific in 2003 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. The following year, he won the silver medal at the Summer Games in Athens, achieving the fourth best score in Olympic Games history. In 2007, he launched the Bryan Clay Foundation, which provides academic and athletic scholarships to underprivileged student-athletes. Most recently, Clay scored a personal best 8,832 points at the 2008 Olympic Trials. On Friday (August 22) Clay won the gold medal in track & field’s decathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China...Click here to read more.

>>Vivian Chukwuemeka, Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Track & Field
Chukwuemeka graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2006. As the most honored female thrower in the history of the NAIA, Chukwuemeka still holds the NAIA record in discus (186’9”) and indoor (59’2”) and outdoor (59’7 ½”) shot put. When she’s not training and competing, this three-time reigning All-African shot put champion uses her social work degree to help at-risk teenagers. Chukwuemeka competed in the first round of the shot put event but did not advance to the second round...Click here to read more.

>>Julie Ertel, Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Triathlon
Ertel earned her M.Ed. in Physical Education in 1999 at Azusa Pacific. The following year, she won a silver medal as a member of the U.S. women’s Olympic water polo team at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. She is the former head coach of the women’s water polo team at the University of California, Irvine. Ertel competed in the triathlon event placing 19th...Click here to read more.

>>Innocent Egbunike, Azusa Pacific University, Head Coach Track & Field
Innocent graduated in 1986 with a B.A. in Communications, and in 1993 with an M.Ed. in Physical Education. Before attending Azusa Pacific, he participated as a teenager in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Between 1980-92, he competed in four consecutive Olympic Games. A member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, Innocent holds the Nigerian record in the 400 meter (44.17). He was named head coach of the 2008 Olympic Nigerian track and field team...Click here to read more.

>>Johana Gomez, Lee University (Tenn.), Softball
Johana Gomez is scheduled to arrive on the Lee University campus on Aug. 30 and softball coach Emily Russell can’t wait to see the right-handed hurler in action. Russell, like millions of others around the world, watched on TV as the Venezuelan toed the rubber in softball Olympic competition against the powerful United States, Taiwan, Japan and Australia teams. All totaled, Gomez pitched in 13.1 innings during the Beijing, China action...Click here to read more.

>>Sean McLelland, Lindenwood University (Mo.), Skeet Shooting
Lindenwood shooter Sean McLelland put on a great performance at the 2008 Olympic Games but came up one target short of advancing to the finals in the shooting Skeet competition...Click here to read more.

>>Alfred A.G. Kruger, Morningside College (Iowa), Track & Field
Kruger qualified for his second Olympic Team with his win at the 2008 Olympic Trials with his winning toss of 75.81m/248-9, which is the top throw by an American this year. His winning margin at the Trials was 4 feet, 4 inches better than his nearest competitor...Click here to read more. 

>>Cheryl Haworth, Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.), Weightlifting
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>>D.J. Sissoko, Union University (Tenn.), Women's Basketball
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>>University of British Columbia
This summer, nearly 40 members of the UBC community will participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games as athletes, coaches sports doctors and staff...Click here to read more.

>>Terry Puhl, University of Houston-Victoria, Head Coach Baseball, Canadian Team
The Canadian Olympic baseball team, coached by Jaguars baseball coach Terry Puhl, lost Wednesday's prelimiary baseball game against Chinese Taipei 5-6. Canada has now ended its Olympic campaign, finishing sixth overall with a 2-5 records. Click here to read more.

Know of an Olympian with NAIA ties? Submit information to sschottman@naia.org.