Raul Sheen officially named sprint coach at UW...

The University of Washington officially confirmed today what paulmerca.blogspot.com posted on Saturday buried underneath a post on Brad Walker and Aretha Thurmond--Raul Sheen (left/photo courtesy Long Beach State sports information) from Long Beach State was named as the sprints/hurdles coach at Huskyville.

Sheen joins the Husky staff following a one-year stint at Long Beach State where he was named the 2008 West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

"It became increasingly clear to me every time I spoke with Raul that he was a great fit for Washington," said head coach Greg Metcalf. "I had the opportunity to watch the Long Beach State sprinters last year and was impressed without knowing who Raul was. I made an inquiry to the head coach at Long Beach State, Andy Sythe, and he had only great things to say about the work Raul had done there."

Sheen's sprinters had a remarkable amount of success during his one year with the program. Brent Gray earned All-America honors in the 200-meter dash with a 5th-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and won the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the West Regional meet. Gray was named the 2008 Big West Track Athlete of the Year, and also won the MPSF 200m Championship at Washington's own Dempsey Indoor in a facility record time of 20.93 seconds.

"I am extremely excited to be in Seattle joining the Husky family," said Sheen. "Being originally from the Pacific Northwest, it is a bit of a homecoming for me, and I am very excited to join a program that is truly on the rise. Coach Metcalf and his excellent staff have done a great job with the track and field teams, and I am confident this is a team that will be a national power for years to come."

"Raul will continue to build on the momentum our men's sprint/hurdle crew has right now, while at the same time rebuilding our women's group," says Metcalf. "I know that we have a very talented collection of sprinters, both upperclassmen and freshmen, that are hungry to get to work with Coach Sheen and we are excited about what he will add to our program."

To read the full release from the University of Washington, click here...