Local teacher inducted into UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame
Local teacher inducted into UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame
Most students know Mrs. Godbehere as a fun and well-liked teacher of seventh-grade history. They have no idea of her "former" life as nationwide track star Dawn Dumble.
A top shotput and discus combination thrower, Dawn Dumble was an all-around athlete throughout her high school and college life. She was a four-time high school All-American selection, and her team won the California state title twice in her time at Bakersfield High School. In 1991 she won the U.S. Junior and Pan Am Junior Discus Throw Championships. She graduated from BHS in 1990.
Continuing her education at UCLA, Dawn earned a degree in history, all the while setting numerous track records.
She is the number two all-time at UCLA in the shotput (58-10.75), and number three all-time at UCLA in the discus. She is a four-time NCAA Champion, including NCAA Indoor Shotput Champion in 1992 (56-11) and 1995 (57-8). She placed third at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 1993 in the shotput, and is a three-time NCAA Indoor All-American. She was named the NCAA Outdoor Champion in the shotput in 1993 (56-4), and NCAA Outdoor Champion in the discus in 1995 (187-2). She holds the second-place record at UCLA (man or woman) in NCAA point scoring (81 total: 55 outdoor, 26 indoor). Dawn is also a six-time Pac-10 champion, including 1991: shot (56-7.50), disc (174-2); 1992: shot (53-7.50), disc (176-0); and 1993: shot (55-11.75), disc (185-2l).
Dawn graduated from UCLA in 1995.
Mrs. Dawn Dumble Godbehere will be inducted into UCLA's famous Athletic Hall of Fame at a formal dinner on Friday, Sept. 30. She joins numerous well-known athletes previously honored, including Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbor) (basketball); Arthur Ashe (tennis); Rafer Johnson (track); Mitch Gaylord (gymnastics); Jackie-Joyner-Kersee (track); Dot Richardson (softball); Gail Devers (track); Troy Aikman (football); and Jim Brown (football), just to name a few.
The Freedom staff will travel to the UCLA-Washington football game on Oct. 1 to share in the celebration with Mrs. Godbehere, when during half-time she will again be honored.
Congratulations to Dawn Dumble Godbehere -- well done!
