Webster University Athletics

2019 (FRESHMAN): Ran in all six cross country races ... Named SLIAC Newcomer of the Year after placing eighth at the SLIAC Championships (11/2) with an 8K time of 26:31.28 ... Was the second Gorlok in school history to earn SLIAC Newcomer of the Year honors ... Ran a season-best 8K time of 26:47.0 at the NCAA Midwest Regionals (11/16) as he placed 86th overall ... The 86th place finish was the third-best ever in an NCAA Regional Championship ... Ran under 28 minutes in three 8K meets ... Opened collegiate career with a seventh place finish at the WIU Early Bird (8/30) with a personal best 6K time of 20:31.5 en route to earning SLIAC Runner of the Week honors ... Also competed in track ... Competed in three indoor meets in 2020 ... Was a member of Webster's second place distance medley team that ran a time of 11:38.65 at the SLIAC Indoor Invitational (2/29) ... Was also fourth in the 3,000 meters with a personal best time of 9:40.82 at the SLIAC Indoor Championships.

HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in both track and cross country for three years at Fort Zumwalt West High School for Coach John Cunningham ... Earned First-Team All-Conference and All-Sportsmanship Team honors ... As a senior, ran PR times of 16:53 in the 5K, 9:55 in the 3,200 and 4:38 in the 1,600 ... During his junior year, had PR times of 17:31 in the 5K, 10:20 in the 3,200 and 4:44 in the 1,600 ... Posted PR times of 17:28 in the 5K, 10:28 in the 3,200 and 4:53 in the 1,600 as a sophomore ... In the classroom, earned a Positive Peer Influence Award as a senior and was an Academic All-Conference selection.

PERSONAL: Born May 30 ... Son of Martha Whitehead and Trippie Sakuma ... Psychology major with minors in Japanese and Human Rights ... Has two sisters, Shelby and Haley and a brother, Colbei ... Chose Webster because of the campus vibe ... Lists the NN running team as his favorite sports team ... Is a distance running junkie ... Names Eliud Kipchoge, Joshua Cheptugi and Michael Jordan as his favorite athletes ... Likes to play disc golf, draw and hang out with friends ... Wants to enroll graduate school after graduation.