CORVALLIS, Ore. – University of British Columbia’s Rowan Hamilton and College of Idaho’s Sage Martin were named the 2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference Rize Laboratory Track and Field Athletes of the Year, announced Thursday by the conference office.
The athletes were nominated and voted on by the head track and field coaches in the CCC.
Hamilton, a junior from Chilliwack, B.C., received this award after another outstanding season. He won his second consecutive NAIA men’s hammer throw title, the third of his career. He reached 71.97 meters on his first attempt to take more than a 10 margin victory. He scored 10 points at the national meet to help the T-Bird men's-team complete a runner-up finish at the National Tournament.
His winning throw is second in NAIA meet history, only to his own record set in 2022. His season best throw of 75.77 meters still stands as the number one men’s collegiate hammer throw in North America.
Hamilton was also named the 2023 USTFCCCA West Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year and an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Other Male Nominees: Eastern Oregon University’s Tanner Nett
On the women’s side, Martin stood out among the group while creating a stellar legacy at College of Idaho. The Junior from Meridian, Idaho, is the 2023 CCC and National Champion in the Steeplechase. At the NAIA Championship, she finished with a time of 10:17.90, the 4th fastest all-time at the national meet.
Three hours later, she placed 8th in the 5k to earn All-American honors. She scored 11 total points at the national meet to help the C of I women's-team finish 8th overall at the National Tournament. Academically, Martin was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and CSC Academic All-District.
“We are so happy for Sage, all of her hard work and dedication is paying off. She was so consistent and trusted in what we were doing all year, and it’s great to see her be rewarded for it.” -Dominic Bolin (Head C of I Coach).
Other Female Nominees: British Columbia’s Olivia Lundman, Eastern Oregon’s Maggie Ledbetter, Lewis-Clark State’s Jennah Carpenter, Southern Oregon’s Abi Stevens
