Concordia's Greg Schultz (left) and Annie Hess were voted the 2009 CCC Track and Field Athletes of the Year.
Schultz, Hess: Track & Field Athletes of Year
PORTLAND, Ore. – Concordia University throwers Greg Schultz and Annie Hess, who successfully defended their national titles at the 2009 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last month, have been named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Male and Female Track and Field Athletes of the Year, respectively, the CCC office announced.
Schultz, a senior from Centralia, Wash., captured his second straight NAIA title in the hammer throw with a personal best of 210-9 at the national championships held outside of St. Louis. Schultz’ mark, the best in the NAIA during the 2009 season and a top 50 performance on the U.S. season list, bettered his small-college Oregon record, which he set earlier in the year with a throw of 207-8. The previous record of 206-4 was set by Pro Escobedo of Western Oregon University in 2003. Schultz’ title helped propel the Cavs to their highest-ever finish (tie for third) at the national championships.
At the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships in mid-May, Schultz won his fourth consecutive league title in the hammer throw to help the Cavaliers to a fourth straight team title. He also finished second in the 35-pound weight throw at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. His two All-America honors in 2009 bring his career total to six (four outdoor, two indoor).
Hess, a senior from Bickleton, Wash., became only the second woman in NAIA history to win three consecutive national titles in the discus, matching the feat of Kearney (Neb.) State’s Beth Stuart from 1985-87. Hess’ winning mark of 176-7, the best performance in the NAIA in 2009 (and among the top 25 recorded this year by a U.S. athlete, according to Track and Field News), was nearly 6 ½ feet better than the second-place finisher. Hess’ effort helped spark the Cavaliers to a program-best team finish (tie for fifth) at the NAIA Championships.
Sidelined with a back injury for the first half of the season, Hess returned to competition in late April by winning every meet in which she was entered, including the Oregon Relays, the Oregon Twilight and the CCC Championships. Her winning effort at the conference championships resulted in her fourth consecutive league title and helped spark Concordia to its third straight women’s team crown.