Women's All-HCAC release http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/trackandfield/2012/allhcacwindoor.pdf I Men's All-HCAC release http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/trackandfield/2012/allhcacindoor.pdf
The Bluffton University track and field teams capped off a superb first season under first-year Head Coach Karen Brandt at the 2012 HCAC Indoor Championships on Saturday, Feb. 18.
The Beavers put five women on the All-HCAC squad, second only to Rose-Hulman's seven event winners. Nearly one-third of the entire women's All-HCAC team came from Bluffton following a seventh place finish for the Beavers.
With only seven women competing for the Beavers, each athlete scored in the championship for a total of 40 points, just two points behind 6th place. Leading the Bluffton women was the distance medley relay team of sophomore Brandi Dominique (Wauseon), sophomore Kayla Mullenhour (Delphos/Jefferson), junior Alison Janzen (Whitewater, Kan./Remington) and junior Maddie Moore (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams).
The relay team set a new HCAC Championship meet record and a new Bluffton school record by finishing in a time of 12:54.78, eight seconds ahead of the second place team from Hanover.
Senior Megan Neal (Arlington) placed first in the weight throw with a toss of 47-09 feet, which was a new HCAC Championship meet record. Neal also took 4th in the shot put with a toss of 33-10 feet.
In conjuntion with the All-Heartland Conference awards, the conference has announced the All-HCAC Sportsmanship Team for the 2011-12.
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 seniors Andrew Chaffee (Clarkston, Mich.) and Megan Neal were recognized by their peers for their sportsmanship this season.
Throughout the 2012 indoor track and field season, the men's and women's teams broke three meet records, 15 school records and 75 personal records. Now that the indoor season has concluded, the track and field teams will prepare for another breakthrough campaign in their outdoor season which is set to begin on March 17, 2012, at the University of Cincinnati.
