OLANIYAN
ATHLETICS
Ajamu Olaniyan (formerly known as Dean Cash) competed in Track
and Field at the University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1989-1993. His event was the triple jump. A graduate of Sun Prairie High School, Ajamu's best performance in high school was 46' 0" in the triple jump. Under the expert coaching of Evan Perkins, he improved his personal best by a whopping 10" per meet during the indoor season. Initially an unknown, he was ranked number two in the United States at the end of the season, a position he would hold or better throughout his career.
Freshman Year |
Sophomore Year |
Junior Year |
Senior Indoor Year |
Senior Outdoor Year
FRESHMAN SEASON:
- After winning the first of four Indoor Wisconsin State
University Conference Championships, he placed third at
the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. He was bumped
out of second place by Joe Prestagiacomo, who had jumped
two centimeters further. Only a week prior, Ajamu had
bested Joe by two feet. Stress fractures cut short
Ajamu's Outdoor season--he only competed at the Outdoor
meet--placing third, and took eighth at the NCAA Outdoor
National Championships. By doing so, Ajamu became the
first Freshman ever to become an Indoor and Oudoor
All-American. He finished the season with the third-best
performance in school history.
- Voted Class MVP
SOPHOMORE SEASON: (1990)
Indoor Best: 50' 4.25"
- Placed 2nd at the Nebraska Husker Invitational
- Won Conference Indoor Title (performance: 50' 3.75")
- Placed 2nd at the Indoor National Championship
(performance: 49' 7.25)
Outdoor Best: 50' 6"
- Placed 6th at Kansas Relays
- Qualified for Drake Relays
- Placed 2nd at Outdoor Conf. Meet (performance: 47' 7.5)
- Voted Class MVP
JUNIOR SEASON: (1991)
Indoor Best: 51' 0.75"
- Won 1st Individual National Championship (Indoor)
(performance: 51' 0.75")
- Won WSUC Conference Indoor title (performance: 50'
3.5")
Outdoor Best: 51' 8.5"
- Won 2nd Individual National Championship (Outdoor)
(performance: 51' 7")
- Won WSUC Oudoor Conference Title (performance: 51'
8.5"--meet, facility, and school record)
- Also set records at Luther Invitational and La Crosse
Classic.
- Voted Class MVP
SENIOR SEASON: (1992)
Indoor Best: 51' 1.25"
- Won WSUC Indoor Conference Title an unprecedented fourth
time (performance: 48' 11.75")
- Placed 3rd at Indoor National Championship (performance:
49' 2.5")
Outdoor Best: 49' 1.5"
- Qualified for Outdoor Nationals, but Redshirted
FIFTH AND FINAL SEASON: (1993)
Outdoor Best: 51' 7"
- Won 2nd National Championship (outdoor) (performance:
51'7")
- Won 6th Conference Championship (outdoor) (performance:
51' 5.5"--all jumps over 51' for series)
- Placed 6th at Drake Relays
- Won Meet of Champions
- Won Norse Relays
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Ajamu's family
Personal Info.
Main Page
There are two other websites that contain pictures and more information on Ajamu's
track
and
basketball exploits--feel free
to visit them!