Coach Tony Boston comes to Pomona-Pitzer after successful
coaching stints at Whittier College (CA) and the United States
Merchant Marine Academy (NY).
At Whittier College (1999-2005) he helped to guide the men’s
track team to its best finishes at the SCIAC Outdoor
Championships. During this resurgence his athletes
established school records, won conference champions, earned 50
All-Conference selections and qualified to compete at the NCAA
Track & Field Championships. During his tenure as the
Men’s Head Coach, two Whittier College athletes earned NCAA
All-American honors (High Jump, Javelin).
After Whittier, Boston assumed the helm of the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Programs at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. In his time at the Academy (2006-2008), Boston’s athletes continued to produce. His USMMA track and field athletes won individual conference championships, broke several Academy records, and on three occasions achieved NCAA qualifying standards (Javelin, Decathlon, 400mH). In cross country, his men’s team won the 2006 Skyline Conference Championship, taking the first four finishing spots. They also made great gains in the Collegiate Track Conference (comprised of NCAA D-I, D-II and D-III institutions) by finishing 2nd at the 2007 Cross Country Championship. His women’s team grew in overall size and skill level. The women took the number one and two spots at the 2006 Skyline Championship and finished in 3rd place at the 2007 CTC Championships (a program best). Proving that strong academics and tremendous athleticism can coexist, his squads earned three Academic Dean Awards and one USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honor under his charge.
Beyond his experiences at the collegiate level, Coach Boston taught various science courses at nearby El Monte High School. While at EMHS, Boston quickly ascended the coaching ranks, taking charge of the boy’s track and field and cross country programs.
Boston earned his bachelor’s degree from Whittier College in 1999 with a double major in biology and health, physical education and recreation. He continued his education at Whittier, earning a master’s degree in education in 2000.
In 2001, Boston gained recognition as a USA Track and Field (USATF) Level II Certified coach in sprints, hurdles and relays. In 2002, he added USATF Level II Certification in the horizontal and vertical jumps to his resume. Boston regularly works with USA Track and Field as an instructor for the Level I Coaches Education Program. He is also certified as a personal trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Coach Boston credits his coaching successes to four key factors:
- Goal Setting
- Attention to Detail
- A Sound Work Ethic
- Commitment to Team
These factors will become major tenets of the
Pomona-Pitzer Cross Country and Track & Field programs as we
strive to improve our regional and national rankings.
Torrey Olson joins the Sagehen coaching staff in 2009 after
serving as team captain for the cross country and track and field
teams the previous year. Olson will help guide the cross
country team in the fall and the middle and long distance athletes
in the spring.
“PP has already begun the ascent to new heights, and
I’m very excited to contribute to PP’s rise on every
level, be it the SCIAC or the national stage,” said
Olson. “Performance, commitment, and the famed
Pomona-Pitzer sense of community all seem to go hand in
hand.”
Olson, while his formal education is in English, brings a great
depth of knowledge in training history and science as well as
personal experience as an athlete, a passion for the development of
runners as both individuals and part of a team, and a thorough
understanding of the demands placed on the student-athletes of
Pomona-Pitzer. Olson is also a USATF Level I certified
coach.
“I am thrilled to have Coach Olson on board for the
2009-2010 cross country and track and field seasons,” said
Coach Boston. “As a student athlete, Olson proved to be
a fierce competitor and a masterful tactician. As a coach, he
contributes an intellect and a detail-oriented work ethic that
rivals many seasoned coaches. Olson will be an integral part
of the coaching staff, assisting with every aspect of recruiting,
coaching, day-to-day operations, and meet management.”
As an athlete, Olson was a 5-time All-SCIAC team member, a two
time All-Academic performer, and a national qualifier in cross
country.
