Dedication pays off for Bofa

Many students do not know about the future legend that walks across campus every day and flies around the track. Junior Emmanuel Bofa, the school record holder for the 800 meter dash, won the event at the NCAA Division III outdoor track and field national championships meet last year and is in the running to win it again this year, said head coach Toby Schwarz.

Bofa, also known as Eman, is currently training for this year’s outdoor nationals coming up on May 21–23. This year Nationals will be good competition.

“I’ve got just a good a shot to win as anybody,” Bofa said. “Even though I’m probably not going to be the fastest guy going in this year, I’m going to run with the biggest heart,” Bofa said. “I run because I know God gave me a gift that other people don’t have.”

Though Bofa is competing at the national level on the track, in high school Bofa was pursuing basketball. His basketball coach encouraged him to try out for track.

“So you want me go run around in circles for fun and get tired,” Bofa said. “That does not sound interesting.”

Despite his skepticism he tried out for track, and by the end of the season he was less then a half a second from getting the school record in the 400 meter dash. The next season he broke the school record.

Through an Act Six scholarship, Bofa decided to come to Whitworth where he was strongly welcomed into the track and cross country teams.

“The track and field program has helped me see a strength beyond yourself,” Bofa said. “It has given me the opportunity to take something scattered and jumbled and mold it into something great. And I feel like that’s what I’ve seen since I’ve stepped onto the campus.” 

With 80-plus athletes on the track and field team, Bofa said that one of the coolest things is seeing all those different parts come together to pursue and achieve a common goal.

Injuries are the main obstacle that Bofa deals with.

Junior Dusty Caseria, one of Bofa’s training partners, said, “He can fight through injuries and still perform. I can always count on him giving 100 percent and being  there on race days.”

Coach Toby Schwarz recognizes his hard work and dedication.

“He’s a joy to coach because he has everything you want in an athlete,” Schwarz said. “He is a leader, he is a hard worker, he is dedicated, he has a great attitude, he is extremely coachable and extremely fun to have around.”

As a team captain, Bofa leads by example, on the track and off, Caseria said. “He is someone that all of the guys on the team look up to him and see the hard work he puts in,” he said.

Bofa would love to continue running track and field in the future, whether training with the Oregon track club or the Santa Monica track club in California. 

“I’m just enjoying all of the opportunities I have now,” Bofa said. “I don’t take anything for granted.”

Contact Thomas Robinson at thomas.robinson@whitworthian.com.
 

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