June 4th, 2009
Established to support runners and the running sports throughout West Virginia, The Friends of Track and Field (FOTAF) Fund of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust is pleased to award the Jim Dunn Memorial Scholarship for the current academic year to State Cross Country and Track and Field Champion, Zachary Tennant.
Tennant, who plans to run for the College of William and Mary, received the award for his athletic accomplishments as a member of the North Marion High School Cross Country and Track and Field teams.His achievements include a 2nd place finish in the 2007-08 State Cross Country Championship, individual Track and Field back to back 1600 meter championships, setting the state record with a 4:13 performance in 2009, and a 3200 meter championship in the recent State meet. “Zach was an integral part of our track team,” notes North Marion Track head coach, Rob Shaffer, “His knowledge of running and mental preparation was very inspirational to our younger, underclassmen. I have no doubt that he can succeed. I genuinely believe that one day I will watch him compete as an Olympic athlete. ”Earlier this year Tennant cracked the State course record and was highlighted in an interview with Dyestat.com, the nation’s leading Cross Country/Track and Field website.
The Friends of Track and Field Fund was designed to provide scholarship to support running sports in West Virginia.Its long term goal is to see collegiate men’s running teams reinstated at West Virginia University.Both teams were cut from WVU in 2003.Since then, outstanding West Virginia runners have gone on to run at the University of Tennessee, Marshall University, and Cornell University among others.Zach has set a personal goal of working to bring those teams back.“It saddens me that I cannot compete at home for the Mountaineers.If the program comes back in the next 3 to 4 years I will be first in line to join them no matter what the circumstances.”
The annual Jim DunnTwilight 5-Miler, to be held on July 10th, brings a great group of family, friends, and fellow runners together to support the idea of the WVU Men’s running programs and to remember and honor former WVU runner, Jim Dunn.This year’s event will be held along the Caperton Trail with dinner and awards at the Wharf Parking Garage. Many of our state’s best high school runners, including Zach have participated and continue to support the event.A 1972 West Virginia University graduate, Jim spent four years on WVU’s storied Men’s Track and Field Team, under the leadership of Coach Stan Romanowski.
For more information about the Friends of Track and Field Fund or the Jim Dunn Twilight 5-miler or the scholarship fund visit the GMCT website, www.gmctfoundation.org or contact by email at info@gmctfoundation.org .
