By Ron Smith
May 28, 2021
 
(GULF SHORE, Ala.) Westmont Men's Track and Field had a remarkable day at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships. The team placed fourth – the highest in program history – and captured three individual national championships.
 
"This is the first time in the history of the program that we have earned a trophy," said Westmont head coach Russell Smelley. "Sixth is the highest that Jim Klein's historically great teams finished. So, this is a wonderful accomplishment for Westmont and for these young men and for our program as a whole."
 
Senior Seth Wilmoth got the ball rolling for the Warriors in the pole vault. He entered the competition with the fourth highest vault in the NAIA this year, facing a field of 22 competitors.
 
"Overall, I felt as ready as I have ever been," said Wilmoth. "Cool, calm and collected, in a sense. I had the confidence. The season didn't reflect what I would have thought in my freshman, sophomore or junior year that I would experience in my senior year. Not just the heights, but consistency in meets. But that is how it goes. It is a little bit harder to fall back on that confidence, but I relaxed and put it all out there."
 
After passing at the opening height of 4.60 meters (15-1), Wilmoth cleared the bar on his second attempt at 4.70 meters (15-5). He passed again at 4.75 (15-7) meters before clearing at 4.80 meters (15-9), once again on his second attempt.
 
After Wilmoth passed at 4.85 meters (15-11) he needed just one attempt to clear 4.90 meters (16-0.75). He chose to pass again at 4.95 meters (16-2.75), then cleared on his second vault at 5.0 meters (16-4.75).
 
At this point, only four vaulters remained in the competition. Connor Floyd of Doane (Neb,) and Bryce Carmack of Marian (Ind.) choose to pass at 5.05 meters (16-6.75). Levi Sudbeck of Doane cleared the bar on his first attempt after Wilmoth had missed.
 
Wilmoth and assistant coach Tom Fitzsimons made a strategic decision at that point, deciding to pass at any more attempts at the 5.05 meter mark. The decision was risky because it meant that Wilmoth would have only two attempts to vault 5.10 meters (16-8.75) – a height Wilmoth had never cleared before. However, it would also preserve his strength for the attempts.
 
All four remaining vaulters missed on their first attempt. Wilmoth, who was first in the rotation, was down to one final attempt to remain in the contest. He cleared the bar, breaking the Westmont record in the process, and celebrated with a fist pump before exiting the mat.
 
Sudbeck, Floyd and Carmack still had two attempts each to try the match Wilmoth, but all three failed on both attempts, making Wilmoth the national champion.
 
It is Wilmoth's second national championship after winning as a sophomore in the 2019 Indoor Championships.
 
"I was extremely nervous," admitted assistant coach Tom FitzSimons after the contest. "Not because of anything that Seth displayed or did wrong, but because I knew what was at stake and I knew his winning was possible. It would gut me if I felt as though he didn't get everything he worked for and deserved. He is one of the hardest workers I will ever coach."
 
"I have had so much support," said Wilmoth. "For all the people that have invested in me – my family, coach and friends – that is where it really feels good to show for it and make it worthwhile."
 
"He did a tremendous job," praised FitzSimons, "I am beyond proud of him. When he won in 2019 as a sophomore, I told him, 'You have five more (championship opportunities) left.' It ended up being four because of COVID. I said to him at that time, 'I dare you to do it again.' He won the bet. He did it again."
 
About two minutes after Wilmoth cleared his last height, but before his competitors had finished their attempts. Adam King and Zola Sokhela were lining up for the start of the men's 1500 meter run. Sokhela had the fastest time coming into the competition and was the clear favorite.
 
Instead of leading the pack as he had in the preliminaries, Sokhela decided to let someone else be out in front.
 
"There was a lot of wind on the back straight," noted Sokhela. "The guys who saw me in the qualifiers run from the front from the beginning to the end, thought it would be the same thing - I would lead and they would sit behind me and kick to the finish, hoping I would tire out after doing this many races.
 
"Going into the finals, I said, 'I'm not going to lead the race.' First, I have run four or five races. There is a lot of headwind on the back straight. In the 1500 I could sit back, be comfortable, and strike when I need to. I backed myself with my pace. I have a 47 (second) 400 and not everyone has that.
 
"It was a messy race in the front with people getting clipped and always looking back and adjusting. It was very physical."
 
Sokhela initiated his kick on the final turn and pulled away from the other competitors. He crossed the finish line 0.47 seconds ahead of Clayton VanDyke of Lewis-Clark State to claim Westmont's second national championship in a span of less than 10 minutes.
 
King finished in ninth place with a time of 3:58.50.
 
"I got out slow and got boxed in," reported King. "With a lap to go, I wasn't were I wanted to be. I had to try and kick and move down the last 100. I just didn't have the kick that I wanted. I was one place off All-American, so I was a little bummed. It is definitely motivation for both indoor and outdoor nationals next year."
 
Less than two hours later, Sokhela was back on the track to run in the finals of the 800 meters where he was again the favorite, but by a smaller margin.
 
"The 800 was the exact same thing," said Sokhela, referring to the 1500 meter race. "I sat back and dictated the pace and made my move going into the home stretch."
 
Before making his move, Sokhela was passed by Matthew Van Eps of Dordt on the final back stretch, but that proved to make little difference.
 
"I expected the kick (from Van Eps)," said Sokhela. "I wanted him to lead the race, he hasn't before. He expected me to lead so, if I didn't, it would put his game plan out the window. Coming to the home stretch, I knew he had a kick. He is very strong and has a 1:49, so you don't fool around with that. I knew I had to stay composed and relaxed."
 
"I don't like to use the word, but it is unbelievable what Zola did," said head coach Russell Smelley. "Six races in three days, all spectacularly strong runs. Then to win the 800 races at the end after five national races, and to be passed and then come back and win – unbelievable. Beautifully done."
 
Despite his individual accomplishments, Sokhela was more focused on the success of the team.
 
"This is my fifth or sixth month in the United States," said Sokhela. "Coming into the training group at Westmont was very good because I fit in very well. We adapted well in training together. It is about the team and I think we carried that mentality into the championship, especially in the 4 x 800, and I think that showed.
 
"We set very high standards as a team. We said, 'We can win three or four national championships,' and we trained for that. The 4 x 800, the 1500 and the 800 results that we got were extremely good and it is no surprise. We trained for that, it was our goal. It means a lot to us as a team, more than to myself, because it shows the work we have put in all season. Here is the proof that we worked hard and here is what we have to show for it."
 
"Zola is a humble, good young man who interacts well with the guys," said Smelley, addressing the team's cohesiveness. "They elevated to his level of expectation of doing their best. John Baker is a walk-on who didn't break two minutes in his freshman year and he ran 1:55 in yesterday's 4 x 800. He was falling behind, but never gave up. Jason Peterson has had a horrible year of injuries and aggravations and he tied his PR in the finals, chasing people down to give Zola a chance. Adam has bloomed by training with Zola. Seth had a great end to a great career."
 
"It has been awesome to be with the team and have fun out here," said King. "It has been a great environment to see everyone love this sport and compete to the best of their ability."
 
"As a team, we worked really hard," echoed Sokhela about racing in yesterday's 4 x 800 relay and putting his ability to win today's championship races in jeopardy. "I just wanted to be a part of putting us in the best position to do very well as a team. So, I put the team's interest before mine. You take it race by race, what happens tomorrow is tomorrow's problem. I just give it all I have and work from there."
 
"When you have quality athletes who train diligently, believe in what they are doing and have a goal of doing well, good things happen," summarized Smelley.
 
"It is very gratifying," said Smelley before becoming overwhelmed by emotion. "It is very gratifying on Alyssa's birthday. It is just a coincident, but it feels pretty good."
 
Alyssa, the daughter of Smelley and his wife Allison, passed away on July 4, 2006 at the age of 15 after losing her battle with a brain tumor. Alyssa would have turned 30 today.
 
"She was born during nationals," said Smelley. "I left Texas to go home because she was coming early."
 
It is no surprise that Smelley, who pours his life into helping collegiate athletes develop athletically, spiritually, emotionally and academically, would feel a special satisfaction in celebrating his team's success on a day filled with such personal meaning and significance.