By: Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
April 28, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University hosted the 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships on Saturday, April 28, 2007. Anderson University took home both the men's and women's team championships, making it the twelfth consecutive year that the Ravens' men's squad has taken home the title. Bluffton's men's and women's teams each finished seventh in the team standings.

JASON FISHER (Rockford/Parkway) continued his success in the field events as he was named the 2007 HCAC Freshman of the Year. Fisher scored in all four of his events, racking up 20 points, most among freshman at the meet. He finished second in the discus with a throw of 141' 06", third in the hammer throw with toss of 143 feet, seventh in the shot put (43' 10.75") and fifth (156' 01") in the men's javelin. REX BROWN'S (Wauseon/Pettisville) throw of 158' 03" was good for fourth in the men's javelin. The junior also finished sixth in the discus with a toss of 127' 03".

Senior SHANDON NORTH (Galion/Galion) claimed the HCAC 400 meter crown, the second during his tenure at Bluffton. North edged Anderson's GARRETT ZICK by four hundredths of a second to win with a time of 49.11 in a photo finish. He also teamed with TYLER FAIRCHILD(Toledo/Whitmer), JOHNNY ICHRIST (Toledo/Whitmer), and COLLIN WAGNER on the Beavers' 4x400 relay team that finished fourth with a time of 3:28.23.

SARAH HUMPHREY (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky) paced the Bluffton women with a sixth place finish in the 3000m steeplechase (12:52.69) and a fourth place showing in the 10,000 meters (41:40.01). Her time of 12:52.69 shattered the school record of 12:58.99 which was set by Carrie Hudacek in 2003. It was Humphrey's first time competeing in the steeplechase. Sophomore KARYN DAVIS (Liberty Center/Liberty Center) continued her stellar performance in the field events, scoring in three different events. Davis finished fifth in both the shot put (35' 05") and the hammer throw (110' 05"), while her toss of 96' 03" earned her eighth place in the discus.

2007 HCAC TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARDS

Women's Coach of the Year - Scott Wilson (Anderson)
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - Maggie Noonan (Anderson)
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - Janel Belton (Rose-Hulman)
Women's Freshman of the Year - Angela Boggs (Anderson), Emily Babel (MSJ)

Men's Coach of the Year - Scott Wilson (Anderson)
Men's Track Athlete of the Year - Stephen Cohen (Anderson)
Men's Field Athlete of the Year - Ryan Schipper (Rose-Hulman)
MEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - JASON FISHER (BLUFFTON)

The Bluffton track and field team returns to action next weekend on Friday, May 4, when they travel to Indiana University for the Billy Hayes Invitational.

-BEAVERS-