This weekend, ETSU is set to host the Niswonger Invitational at the David E. Walker Track in Johnson City, Tenn. For the past 35 years, the Buccaneers have hosted the two-day meet with some of the nation’s top college student-athletes competing in the event.
This year’s edition will have a slightly different feel to it as one piece will be missing from the event.
Legendary ETSU Track & Field and Cross Country Coach, Dave Walker passed away Saturday, Jan. 11, following a long battle with health issues. Walker, who retired in 2012, spent north of 50 years at ETSU starting as a member of the football team until his graduation in 1958 followed by his long tenure at the head of the track program from 1963 to 2012.
Walker’s career ranged from playing professional football with the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns to training NCAA Champions, Olympic athletes and his time with ETSU. All of his accomplishments led to an induction into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
During his time in the A-Sun from 2005 to 2012, Walker and his student-athletes compiled a long list of accomplishments, records and titles. Walker’s legacy in the A-Sun will continue to live on through the performances of his student-athletes at the conference championships.
Below is a long list of accomplishments by ETSU student-athletes from 2005 to 2012 for cross country as well as the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons.
A-Sun Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship Accomplishments Top Performances A-Sun Championship Records Held: 5 Top-10 Performances in A-Sun History: 55 A-Sun Championship Medalists 1st Place: 45 2nd Place: 62 3rd Place: 67 Team Accomplishments Men’s Team Champions: 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006 Men’s Team Runner-Up: 2012, 2010, 2008 Women’s Team Runner-Up: 2007 Individual Accomplishments Men’s Coach of the Year: 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006 Most Valuable Performer: Jadon Short, 2012; Duran Monal, 2010 Most Outstanding Track Performer: Duran Monal, 2010; Ben Rotich, 2009; Michael Wright, 2007; James Rainer, 2006 Most Outstanding Field Performer: Jarrod Burton, 2011 Most Outstanding Freshman Performer: Jadon Short, 2012 A-Sun Athletes of the Week: 39 A-Sun Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship Accomplishments Top Performances A-Sun Championship Records Held: 5 Top-10 Performances in A-Sun History: 41 A-Sun Championship Medalists 1st Place: 53 2nd Place: 53 3rd Place: 65 Team Accomplishments Men’s Team Champions: 2012, 2009, 2007 Men’s Team Runner-Up: 2011, 2010 Women’s Team Runner-Up: 2007 Individual Accomplishments Men’s Team Champions: 2012, 2009, 2007 Men’s Team Runner-Up: 2011, 2010 Men’s Coach of the Year: 2012, 2009, 2007 Most Valuable Performers: Jadon Short, 2012; Duran Monal, 2010 Outstanding Track Performers: Ben Ronoh, 2011, Duran Monal, 2010; Ben Rotich, 2009; Heidi Dahl, 2009 Outstanding Freshman Performers: Jarrod Burton, 2007; Zacklynn Blackburn, 2007 A-Sun Athlete of the Week: 28 A-Sun Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championship Accomplishments A-Sun Championship All-Conference Performances 1st Team: 15 2nd Team: 4 A-Sun Championship Top-Three Finishes 1st Place: 2 2nd Place: 2 3rd Place: 1 Team Accomplishments Men’s Team Champions: 2008 Men’s Team Runner-Up: 2009, 2007, 2005 Men’s Coach of the Year: 2008 Individual Accomplishments Runner of the Year: Kenneth Rotich, 2008, 2009 Freshman of the Year: Filip Jalovy, 2011; Zacklynn Blackburn, 2007 A-Sun Runner of the Week: 10
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