May 10, 2012

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Two Bluffton University field athletes were recently honored by the Heartland Conference for their respective performances at the HCAC Championships hosted by Franklin College on April 27-28, 2012. Senior MEGAN NEAL (Arlington) won the hammer throw, while freshman JEFF PARKER (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) blew away the conpetition with his winning javelin toss.

Neal won the HCAC title in the hammer throw for the third straight year with a toss of 44.37 meters (145-07 feet). She also threw a personal best in the shot put with a toss of 10.28 meters (33-8.75 feet) to place 7th. The senior came back strong on day two to place 4th in javelin with a throw of 31.75 meters (104-02 feet), securing 17 points for the Bluffton women.

The Bluffton record holder in both the weight throw (indoor) and hammer throw, Neal was the HCAC Field Athlete of the Week twice this season. She is an HCAC All-Academic performer and has also been named to HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Jeff Parker won the HCAC title in the javelin by 12 feet. His throw of 185-06 feet (56.54 meters) is a new school record and it established a personal best by almost 20 feet. It ranked 35th in the nation.

In conjunction with the All-Heartland Conference awards, the conference has announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team for the 2011-12 academic year. This award has been developed as part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative. Members of the All-HCAC Sportsmanship team are selected by the coaches and their teammates as individuals who demonstrate the ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field/court of competition. Bluffton senior BRYAN HECKATHORN (Hartville/Lake) and sophomore KAYLA MULLENHOUR(Delphos/Jefferson) were recognized for their sportsmanship this season.

-BEAVERS-