Wingate’s Hines, Watson Named To ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team

WINGATE, N.C. -- Two Wingate University cross country runners have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III track & field/cross country first team, selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Junior Amber Hines (Little Mountain, S.C.) earned first team honors on the women's side, while classmate Jayce Watson (Millersport, Ohio) earned first team men's laurels.

District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. The 22 first team selections (12 women, 10 men) advance to the national ballot for 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors.

Both Hines and Watson are repeat performers. Hines was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® third team pick in 2007. Watson was an Academic All-District III first team selection last year, joining Hines and 2007 graduate Chelsey Wilson (Candler, N.C.) as Bulldog representatives on the exclusive district list.

Hines has helped the Bulldogs enjoy a renaissance in cross country. A three-time All-South Atlantic Conference performer, Hines led the Bulldogs to the 2007 NCAA Division II national championship meet at Missouri Southern State University in November. Wingate placed second in the 2007 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional race (at Wingate) to earn the trip to nationals. The Bulldogs also won the 2007 Food Lion SAC championship meet.

Wingate's Amber Hines, left, and Jayce Watson were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III track & field/cross country first team.

In 2007, Hines notched three top-five finishes. Her top 2007 times include an 18:47 5K (pre-national meet, Sept. 15) and a 25:30 6K (NCAA regional meet, Nov. 3). A two-time team MVP, Hines placed second at the 2006 NCAA regional meet (23:38 6K) to earn an individual spot in the national championship race.

Hines was SAC Runner of the Year in 2006, winning the Food Lion SAC championship meet with a 19:39 5K time. She had three first-place finishes during her sophomore season. She was an All-Southeast Region runner the same year.

A volunteer at a local animal hospital, Hines hopes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. A Biology major, she sports a perfect 4.00 GPA. Hines won the 2007 SAC Scholar-Athlete Award, presented to one athlete from each of the conference's 14 sport programs. The award honors student-athletes who represent a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership activities.

Jayce Watson was the 2007 South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Year by virtue of his win at the Food Lion SAC meet. He posted an 8K time of 25:06 to finish first out of 72 runners. During the 2007 campaign, Watson won three races (Greensboro Invitational, Erskine Invitational and SAC championship). He posted a school-record 25:12 8K time in the 2007 pre-national race in Joplin, Mo. (Sept. 15).

Watson has qualified for the NCAA Division II national championship meet as an individual two times. In 2006, he posted a school-record 10K time of 31:50 at the national championship meet in Pensacola, Fla. He is three-time All-SAC and All-Region performer and a two-time team MVP.

The 2005 SAC Freshman Runner of the Year, Watson helped the Bulldogs sweep the 2007 SAC Scholar-Athlete Awards for cross country. He joined Hines on the awards podium for this significant honor. Watson is a Mathematics major with a 3.71 GPA. He is a member of the Wingate University Singers. Both Watson and Hines have participated in the Up 'til Dawn fund-raiser to help the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Student-athletes selected for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. They must possess at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). They must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at his or her institution.

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,041 students, offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, faith development, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers more than 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, education, physical education and sport administration and the doctor of pharmacy degree.

In the spring of 2007, Wingate University awarded its first-ever doctor of pharmacy degrees. Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports.

2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT III
TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS (COLLEGE DIVISION)

WOMEN'S FIRST TEAM
Sarah Hakala, Georgia College & State
Amber Hines, Wingate
Kellie Hughes, Georgia College & State
Michelle Leaman, Eastern Mennonite (Va.)
Samantha Mitchell, Mount Olive
Katrina Morgan, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Ashley Roane, Virginia Wesleyan
Jamie Stanish, Flagler (Fla.)
Katie Suehs, Roanoke
Rebecca Taylor, Washington & Lee
Alyson Trovato, St. Andrews Presbyterian
Shaina White, Southern Virginia

MEN'S FIRST TEAM
Tom Brower, Washington & Lee
Scott Decker, Lynchburg
Will Koeppel, Florida Southern
Eric (Nick) Gehlsen, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Justin German, Mary Washington (Va.)
Ryan MacManus, Flagler (Fla.)
Francois Theriault, Greensboro
Lief Thomason, Florida Southern
Jayce Watson, Wingate
Jeff White, Southern Virginia