Wingate’s Hines, Watson Named SAC Scholar Athletes For Cross Country

ROCK HILL, SC - A pair of outstanding cross country runners who also excel in the classroom have been selected as the 2007 South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athletes for men's and women's cross country.

Wingate University junior Amber Hines, the 2006 conference women's Runner of the Year, and Wingate junior Jayce Watson, a two-time All-Conference performer, were selected the 2007 recipients.

Hines, a junior from Little Mountain, S.C (Chapin High School), carries a 4.0 GPA as a biology and chemistry major.

She was the 2006 SAC women's runner of the year, and was All-Conference and a member of the All-Freshman team in 2005. She finished second in the Southeast Region meet last year and advanced to the national championship race.

Hines carries her impressive GPA in a demanding study, with her goal to study veterinary medicine. She has been on the Presidents list and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and has been inducted into two national academic fraternities.

She is an active participant in both the community and church. She volunteers her time with SAFE Animal Haven in Monore, N.C., Bear Creek Animal Hospital and the Chapin Pet Lodge. She is a member of the Wingate Fellowship of Christian Athletes and United Religions for Peace and has helped raise money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital and cancer research.

Watson is a two-time All-Conference runner and a member of the All-Freshman team in 2005. He finished second in both the 2006 SAC championship and Southeast Region meet and earned a trip to the national championship.

This season, he has been the dominant runner in the league, winning two races and was named SAC Runner of the Week six times.

Watson, a junior from Millersport, Ohio (Millersport High School), has a 3.75 GPA as a mathematics major. He has been named to the Wingate President's list three times, the Dean's List and the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is also in two national honor fraternities.

He is a member of the Wingate Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and takes part in Wingate's Up Til Dawn project, which raises money for St. Jude's Hospital. He also serves as the team representative for the Wingate Student Athlete Advisory Committee and is a member of the University Singers, a select group of campus singers and musicians.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award is presented to one athlete from each of the conference's 14 sport programs and represents a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership.