• Home
• Roster
• Schedule \ Results
• News
• Archives

Sept. 24, 2009

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State University track and field teams are continuing to sell wristbands to support sophomore high jumper Shawn Swartz who has been undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia since May of this year and is currently in full remission.

Swartz, from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, was the 2007 B.C. Junior Champion and is one of a trio of Cougars to clear 7-feet in the high jump last year. He cleared 7-0 1/2 at the Husky Classic Indoor meet in Seattle, Feb. 14, and had qualified for the 2009 NCAA West Regional meet with his high jump of 6-10 3/4 at the Vandal Jamboree May 9. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just prior to the 2009 Pacific-10 Track & Field Championships and was not able to compete again last spring. He is continuing his treatment at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia, through February 2010.

The wristbands are crimson in color with the saying, "Pride gives us the inner strength to persevere" in white lettering along with his initials, S.S./A.C., using his first and last name and his nickname, Air Canada. The cost is $5 per wristband and they come in sizes medium and large. To order a wristband, contact WSU jumps coach Matt McGee at 509-335-0288 or by emailing mdmcgee@wsu.edu.

"Shawn is able to do very light physical activity as long as he is feeling well," McGee said. "He will be able to return to WSU next fall and I plan to have him here jumping again as long as everything continues to go well. His goal is to be healthy enough to jump unattached this spring in Canada."