GREENWOOD, IN – Franklin College’s Heather Waterman (Shelbyville, Ind./Morristown) and College of Mount St. Joseph’s Lauren Hastings (Okeana, Ohio/Ross) have been named 2010 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Year and Field Athlete of the Year, respectively. Waterman led the Grizzlies to the school’s first ever HCAC women’s track and field title, while Hastings helped the Lions place fourth at the meet held at Mount St. Joseph on April 30-May 1.

Waterman, a junior for the Grizzlies, won two events at the HCAC Championships and finished second in another. She won the 1,500-meter run in a first place time of 4:51.47 and the 5,000-meter run in 18:46.65, while finishing second in the 800-meters (2:20.64).  Waterman was also named Track Athlete of the Year following last spring’s meet.

Hastings, a sophomore on the Mount squad, claimed two first place finishes at the meet helping the Lions to a fourth place finish.  The sophomore won the long jump with a leap of 5.11 meters and claimed first in the triple jump with a jump of 11.19 meters. 

Also receiving recognition for their efforts at the meet are Defiance’s Shavonda Price (Ft. Wayne, Ind./South Side) and Ashlyn Howell (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton) and Mount St. Joseph’s Katie Jerek (Boardman, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney). The trio shared the Freshman Athlete of the Year award after the meet.

Franklin’s Paul Sargent was named the HCAC Coach of the Year after leading the Grizzlies to the team title. Sargent led the blue and gold to their first ever women’s track and field conference championship, garnering 154 points to hold off second place Defiance (121.5 points).

Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete:  Heather Waterman, Franklin College

Most Outstanding Female Field Athlete:  Lauren Hastings, College of Mount St. Joseph

Co-Most Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete: Shavonda Price, Defiance College

Co-Most Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete: Ashlyn Howell, Defiance College

Co-Most Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete: Katie Jerek, Mount St. Joseph

Coach of the Year:  Paul Sargent, Franklin College

All-HCAC (Event Winners)

Megan Neal, So., Bluffton

Marlea Rolander, So., Defiance

Shavonda Price, So., Defiance

Kaitlin Switzer, Jr., Defiance

Ashlyn Howell, Fr., Defiance

Kristin Goldstein, Sr., Defiance

Courtney Swabb, So., Defiance

Heather Waterman, Jr., Franklin

Kendall Paris, Sr., Franklin

Jennifer Beakas, Jr., Manchester

Jessica Bremer, Jr., Manchester

Kailey Honn, Jr., Manchester

Lindsey Machamer, Sr., Manchester

Katie Jerek, Fr., Mount St. Joseph

Kristin George, Sr., Mount St. Joseph

Emily Babel, Sr., Mount St. Joseph

Maddie Hirsch, Fr., Mount St. Joseph

Lauren Hastings, So., Mount St. Joseph

Creasy Clauser, Fr., Rose-Hulman

Tanya Colonna, Fr., Rose-Hulman

Rebecca Fehribach, Sr., Rose-Hulman

Honorable Mention All-HCAC (Athlete must accumulate 16 points at HCAC Championships)

Shelby Johnston, So., Franklin

Lexi Vincz, Fr., Hanover

Melissa Rogers, Sr., Rose-Hulman