Forrest Lewton
THIS YEAR: Oftentimes lost in the shadows of other Cougar distance runners, junior Forrest Lewton is nonetheless a key component in Azusa Pacific’s chase for conference and national championships ... Has developed into a good distance runner with tremendous strength and endurance ... Already rates among the best steeplechasers in program history ... Will press for All-America recognition.
2008 (sophomore): Was the GSAC runner-up in the steeplechase with a 9:18.69 ... Qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championship Meet in the steeple but did not advance out of the prelims ... Clocked the fourth-fastest steeple in school history with a 9:13.50 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relay ... Also qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championship Meet in the 3000 meters ... Ran a 15:23.79 in the 5000 in a meet at Point Loma.
2007 (freshman): Came on strong toward the end of the season and earned a spot on the Cougars’ NAIA outdoor championship squad ... Clocked a 9:38.63 in the NAIA steeplechase prelims ... Recorded the then seventh fastest steeplechase in program history with a 9:32.1 at the Claremont Invitational .. Finished seventh in the GSAC steeple.
CROSS COUNTRY: Capped an excellent 2008 junior season by surprisingly earning NAIA All-American honors, finishing 20th at the national championship meet with a personal-best 8K of 25:05, a 33-second PR ... Finished third among all Cougars, playing a key role in leading Azusa Pacific to a second-placed finish, the Cougars’ best showing ever on the national level ... Collected his first-ever All-GSAC recognition as well with a 12th-place showing at the conference meet ... As a 2007 sophomore, ran his first season of cross country with Azusa Pacific ... Was the Cougars’ No. 2 runner at the 2007 NAIA championship meet with a 26:28 time on the 8K course ... Was also the Cougars’ No. 2 runner with a season-best 8K of 25:35 at the 2007 Stanford Invitational ... Competed for San Diego Christian College as a 2005 freshman, finishing 40th at the GSAC Championship Meet ... Had to sit out the 2006 season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Ran 4 seasons of track & field and 2 of cross country at Whitehall (Mont.) High ... As a 2004 senior, earned all-state honors in cross country after finishing 12th in the state championship meet ... Later that year at the state track & field championship meet, finished fourth in the mile (4:31.1) and fifth in the 2-mile ... Named the Trojans’ most valuable runner in both cross country and track & field ... Also played 2 seasons of varsity basketball and as a senior helped lead Whitehall to the state tournament ... Named the team’s defensive MVP ... Graduated as the school valedictorian ... Served as the junior class president.
PERSONAL: Born March 21, 1987, in San Diego, Calif. ... Parents are John (taxidermist) and Dawn (real estate agent) Lewton ... Majoring in business ... Would like to start his own real estate agency some day ... Enjoys rock climbing and skiing.
LEWTON BESTS at AZUSA PACIFIC YEAR 1500 MILE 3000 STEEPLE 2007 4:04.69 4:30.77 8:52.47 9:32.1 2008 3:59.43 4:24.63 8:44.34 9:13.50
