Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A longtime Mississippi State sports administrator is the newest member of a philanthropic body founded by a former Mississippi State track standout and Olympic medalist.
David C. Boles, associate athletic director and the university's director of student support and retention, is joining the Falilat Ogunkoya Sports Foundation's Board of Studies. He and colleagues from Africa, Europe and the United States will be working to promote the development of international track athletes.
Now a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., Ogunkoya is a Nigerian native who attended MSU 1987-92, when she became the first female in school history to win an Olympic medal.
In earning both silver and bronze medals at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., she also became the first Nigerian to win two medals in a single Olympics.
Her foundation was created to utilize sports as a venue to help alleviate poverty in undeveloped nations. Additionally, the organization gives major focus to the needs of athletes before and after retirement.
During her time on the Starkville campus, Ogunkoya earned All-American track honors several times in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter categories.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For additional information, contact Dr. Boles at 662-325-3541 or boles@ra.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.