POMONA, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona men's and women's track and field head coach
Octavious Gillespie-Bennett announced Friday the hiring of two-time Olympian
Torri Edwards as an assistant coach within the program.
"Torri has been a star in track and field for so many years as an athlete and I think she'll continue that path in her coaching career," Gillespie-Bennett said. "Our student-athletes will respond well to her leadership and motivation."
After a 10-year career as a world-class sprinter, Edwards started coaching in 2010 at the high school level. More recently, she served as an assistant coach in the Riverside Community College track and field program. While serving as an assistant at RCC this past spring, Edwards helped the men's track and field team capture conference and state titles.
In joining Gillespie-Bennett's CPP staff, Edwards will specialize in training the Bronco sprinters.
"I'm excited and looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Broncos' student-athletes," Edwards said. "My background as a professional athlete has given me the understanding of the many components that contribute to being successful."
Having grown up just a few miles from Cal Poly Pomona, Edwards is a graduate of Pomona High School and the University of Southern California. Her track talents allowed her to travel the world to compete as a professional track and field athlete representing the NIKE brand.
In addition to becoming a world champion in the 100-meter race in 2003, Edwards was also ranked No. 3 in the world and No. 2 in the United States in 2007 for that event. In 2008, Edwards was an Olympic finalist in the 100-meter race and recorded a career best of 10.78.
Edwards attended USC, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2005. She continues to be active in the community by hosting sports clinics at Chaffey College. To read Edwards' USA Track & Field bio,
click here.
