Dunbar Earns Gamer of the Week Honors
Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc. and The Putnam Herald are pleased to present this week’s male Gamer of the Week to AJ Dunbar of Poca Track and Field.
AJ Dunbar has been performing well for the Poca Track and Field Team this season. The senior is currently ranked first in the Shot Put and third in the Discus with personal best throws of 53’ 2.5” and 160’ 2”. “AJ epitomizes Poca Track and Field through his hard work and dedication, but more importantly with his attention to detail…He is wonderful at simplifying everything and focusing on what he has been coached to do. You don’t have to worry about AJ slacking and only getting a few throws in…most of the time I have to make in go home,” said Head Track and Field coach Kyle Gwinn.
Dunbar threw in sixth grade, but moved away from the sport until Coach Gwinn encouraged him to throw his sophomore year. That year he went on to win the Shot Put at the state meet with a throw of 47’ 11.50 and finished 7th in the Discus at 123’ 3”. Dunbar followed this up with a strong performance his junior year where he finished 3rd in the Shot Put with at throw of 49’ 5.5” and 4th in the Discus with 134’ 11”. When discussing this season Dunbar said, “My season has been going well. I have hit a few personal bests this year and Discus has been going really well. My goal is to win states in Shot Put and go top-3 in Discus.”
In addition to track and field, Dunbar is the student body president at Poca and a member of National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and several other clubs. Dunbar also earned multiple All-State honors in Football while playing for the Dots. This Fall, Dunbar plans to attend Marshall University to study civil engineering and join Marshall’s recently revived Men’s Track and Field Program.
The State Track Meet held at UC Stadium will get underway at 2pm on Friday and run through Saturday.
Please look for other local high school athletes to be named next week’s female Gamer of the Week Sponsored by Teays Physical Therapy Center, Inc., and Putnam Herald.