Cross Country and Track and Field in Good Hands with Sean Henning

Posted June 30th, 2008 in Athletics, High School Comments Off

Covina, CA After conducting interviews last Friday Western Christian hired Sean Henning to take over the Cross Country program and to revitalize the Track and Field program.  Coach Henning comes to Western Christian from Azusa Pacific University where he ran Cross Country as well as the 5K, 10K, and Marathon in the most prestigious NAIA program in the nation.  While at APU he helped his team to a 5th place finish at Nationals in Cross Country.  He was also on the Cougar Track team that finished 2nd at Nationals and 3rd in the outdoors.  He missed a National Championship by one as the Cougars went on to win it all the following season.  In the meantime he individually qualified and ran two times in the NAIA National Marathon.  He received his degree in Applied Health and Exercise Physiology which he plans to pursue further in a Master’s program.

Out of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, California, Henning went to run at NCAA Division I Fresno State.  While there he ran Cross Country and ran the 1500 as well as the Steeple Chase for the Track program.  Athletic Director Mark Gabbard commented, “ Mr. Henning came to us highly recommended by the APU Coaching Staff; the best NAIA Track and Field program in the country.  I feel his success as an athlete, who he ran for, his Division I experience, and his youthful energy is exactly what we need to continue our Cross County success and to get our Track and Field program back to a level of Championship quality.”  Henning’s contacts at APU will definitely bode well for finding quality assistants to help with field, throws, sprint and hurdle work.

In the early 90s and late 80s Western Christian’s Track and Field program was prominent.  The program even produced C.I.F. Champion Melissa Juan in the 440 M.  It is the goal of the Athletic Department to get back to this level of competition.