Lindsay Schwartz and Lindsay Lettow join seven woman roster to compete at the USA vs. Germany Thorpe Cup beginning Friday, July 29 in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Barbara Nwaba to compete in select events in tune up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro; Financial support for SBTC continues to be raised in record numbers
Santa Barbara, Calif. – While the Olympic Games in Rio grab the public's attention, athletes representing Team USA stretch around the world during the summer to represent the United States in select international competitions. After strong competitions during the USA Olympic Track & Field Team Trials earlier this month, the Westmont College based ABEO Santa Barbara Track Club (SBTC) athletes Lindsay Schwartz and Lindsay Lettow were selected to join Team USA and compete in the Thorpe Cup, a unique Combined Events meet between Germany and the U.S. that dates back to 1993 and is named after famous U.S. Olympian Jim Thorpe. The Thorpe Cup will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30.
The Road to Arkansas
Schwartz, a University of South Alabama alumni and native of Watertown, WI, finished 9th in a deep Heptathlon national championship competition. Her 6036pts was a personal best as she became the third SBTC athlete to crack the 6000pt barrier in the two-day, seven-event Heptathlon. This marks her third year competing for Team USA at the Thorpe Cup and enters the competition as the reigning bronze medalist; she also earned a bronze medal in 2013.
While Lettow, a Central Missouri alumni and native of Urbandale, IL, fell just shy of her personal best and 6000pts at the USA Olympic Track & Field Trials, her 5960pts put her in 10th place, right behind teammate Schwartz, grabbing a Team USA roster spot for the sixth consecutive year. Lettow, a veteran on the squad will look to earn her first medal in Fayetteville.
Also listed as an alternate for the Thorpe Cup is SBTC's Tom FitzSimons, Jr. to represent Team USA in the Decathlon.
Thorpe Cup Event Record Holder, Nwaba Tunes Up on Road to Rio
The road to Rio de Janeiro and the 2016 Olympic Games has truly begun for Barbara Nwaba who departed Santa Barbara with her teammates earlier today. Nwaba will compete at select events at the Thorpe Cup, serving as a tune-up for the Olympic Games. As of time of publication she is entered to compete in the 100m Hurdles, Shot Put and Long Jump. Nwaba is the 2014 Thorpe Cup champion and event record holder with 6205pts, which she set that year in Marburg, Germany.
SBTC Hosts Successful Pathway to the Podium & Launches Online Store
On Saturday, July 23 SBTC hosted a community fundraiser that comprised of an obstacle course and various track events celebrating Nwaba's path to the Olympic Games. SBTC wishes to thank the entire Santa Barbara community who has supported its athletes not only in 2016, but the previous four years, helping to launch the Club and its rapid ascent in Track & Field. Record number of funds have been raised to support Nwaba's trip along with those of SBTC's Executive Director & Head Coach Josh Priester and team physical therapist and chiropractor Dr. Ernie Ferrel. Additional donations raised beyond the cost of the trip will support the continued growth of SBTC's Youth Track Club and community programming for years to come.
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ABOUT SBTC
The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth. The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.