2008 Woodie Awards
Gbaa named A-10 performer of the week
Brett McDermott
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
02/15/08 - The University of Rhode Island men's track team has a star senior who is having a stellar season, and it's being noticed.
The Atlantic 10 honored Yudehwheh Gbaa last week as its performer of the week. This came after his dominating performance at the URI Mega Meet on Feb. 1. Gbaa finished as the top man in two events that day. He finished first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.65 seconds. He then went on to put up the top A-10 mark of the year in the triple jump with a mark of 48 feet, 8 inches.
Gbaa said he makes it a point to put his best effort on display every time.
"If the team needs my help and I'm capable of doing so, I might as well do it," Gbaa said. "When the time comes, I just go."
Although this performance was very impressive, it didn't surprise too many of his teammates. This type of effort has become commonplace for Gbaa. Three weeks ago at the Boston indoor games, he grabbed first place in the triple jump and 55-meter hurdles as well.
Head coach John Copeland said he finds Gbaa's versatility to be an important cog in the URI machine.
"He moves from one event to the other and is a very consistent performer," Copeland said. "Nothing seems to phase him."
This is not the first time that Gbaa has been pushed into the spotlight. He moved from Iberia to Providence, Rhode Island at the age of twelve. It didn't take him long to get acclimated to his new surroundings, as a few years later he was making headlines at Hope High School as a member of both the track and soccer teams. It was there that he found his knack for the triple jump, becoming the 2003 national champion in the event.
"When I started to see my name in the papers," Gbaa commented. "I said ok, I might be on to something here."
Gbaa has emerged as a leader on the team and always knows how to keep his squad having fun. Coach Copeland said it is important to have a teammate is who can take the edge off.
"He's the life of the party, always singing and dancing," Copeland said. "He really keeps everyone loose out there."
Perhaps he picked up his fun-loving attitude from one of his eleven siblings, six brothers and five sisters. To Gbaa, fun is a necessary part of being successful at anything. "Whatever you do, you've got to have fun. I know it brings out the best in me," Gbaa said. "If I try and focus too much, I mess up the little things."
Gbaa and his squad will need to be as loose as possible on Saturday, when they will compete in the A-10 championships.
The Atlantic 10 honored Yudehwheh Gbaa last week as its performer of the week. This came after his dominating performance at the URI Mega Meet on Feb. 1. Gbaa finished as the top man in two events that day. He finished first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.65 seconds. He then went on to put up the top A-10 mark of the year in the triple jump with a mark of 48 feet, 8 inches.
Gbaa said he makes it a point to put his best effort on display every time.
"If the team needs my help and I'm capable of doing so, I might as well do it," Gbaa said. "When the time comes, I just go."
Although this performance was very impressive, it didn't surprise too many of his teammates. This type of effort has become commonplace for Gbaa. Three weeks ago at the Boston indoor games, he grabbed first place in the triple jump and 55-meter hurdles as well.
Head coach John Copeland said he finds Gbaa's versatility to be an important cog in the URI machine.
"He moves from one event to the other and is a very consistent performer," Copeland said. "Nothing seems to phase him."
This is not the first time that Gbaa has been pushed into the spotlight. He moved from Iberia to Providence, Rhode Island at the age of twelve. It didn't take him long to get acclimated to his new surroundings, as a few years later he was making headlines at Hope High School as a member of both the track and soccer teams. It was there that he found his knack for the triple jump, becoming the 2003 national champion in the event.
"When I started to see my name in the papers," Gbaa commented. "I said ok, I might be on to something here."
Gbaa has emerged as a leader on the team and always knows how to keep his squad having fun. Coach Copeland said it is important to have a teammate is who can take the edge off.
"He's the life of the party, always singing and dancing," Copeland said. "He really keeps everyone loose out there."
Perhaps he picked up his fun-loving attitude from one of his eleven siblings, six brothers and five sisters. To Gbaa, fun is a necessary part of being successful at anything. "Whatever you do, you've got to have fun. I know it brings out the best in me," Gbaa said. "If I try and focus too much, I mess up the little things."
Gbaa and his squad will need to be as loose as possible on Saturday, when they will compete in the A-10 championships.