By Stephanie Caron – Editor-in-Chief 

Senior Naheim Washington has committed to Tufts University to run track for his college career. 

This decision follows years of training and hard work playing football and running for the track and field team at Law. 

“I feel like law track has prepared me for more than running at the next level; it has prepared me for life,” Washington said. “The talks I had with Coach Beler and Coach Rhode have shifted my perception on a number of things, because of them two I’m ready for the challenges that will be thrown at me on and off the track.” 

Though Washington is committed to the track and field team, Tufts has many options and educational opportunities that are hard to beat. 

“Tufts was an opportunity academically I could not pass up,” Washington said. “Tufts is a baby Ivy League school that wasn’t too far from home, and been a school I’ve been looking at since freshman year so when the coach called me back and was interested in me I was very excited and the rest is history.” 

Track and field coach Mr. Beler expressed how proud he was of Washington, not just for his athletic ability, but his character as well. 

“I am very proud of Naheim,” Beler said. “He has been a tremendous role model of a student-athlete” 

Washington expressed how COVID-19 has affected his college application process, and made it difficult to know what would be next for him athletically.  

“Personally COVID-19 messed up everything for me over the summer, coaches didn’t reach out to me, so I thought college wasn’t gonna happen and I started looking into the military,” Washington said. “It’s been a year since I competed at an organized sports event and that has made me hungry and truly believe anytime can be your last time.” 

Coach Beler said the decision Washington has made will not only benefit him, but Tufts as well. 

“Tufts  is a national program and has tremendous facilities, this is a great win for both Naheim and Tufts,” Beler said. ”Tufts gets a two-time All-State and three-time Nationals runner and Naheim gets a tremendous educational opportunity from a national program.”