May 21, 2008

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . Wartburg College sprinter Hannah Baker (Keota, Iowa/Keota), Loras College thrower Ellen Thys (Victor, Iowa/HLV), and Central College thrower Jason Fisher (Montezuma, Iowa/Montezuma) have been named Central Region Athletes of the Year for the 2008 Division III outdoor season by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Baker, a sophomore who was named Central Region Female Track Athlete of the Year, won the 400 meters at the Iowa Conference Championships and anchored Wartburg to victory in the 4 x 100 relay. She has the fifth-fastest time in the 400 meters (55.92) entering the NCAA Championships.

Thys, the Duhawks' senior captain who was named Central Region Female Field Athlete of the Year, has the second-longest discus throw in the country (159-7). Thys finished third in the NCAA discus as a sophomore and second as a junior. She also qualified for this year's national outdoor meet in the hammer.

Fisher, a senior who was named Central who was named Central Region Male Field Athlete of the Year, qualified for the NCAA Championships in the discus (166-2) and hammer (184-9). He won the hammer and placed second in the discus at the Iowa Conference meet earlier this month.

Also honored from the Central Region was Saint John's (Minn.) distance runner Chris Erichsen (Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year). Steve Mathre (men) and Joe Sweeney (women), both of St. Thomas (Minn.), were honored as Central Region Head Coaches of the Year. Nebraska Wesleyan University assistants Ann Ringlein (women) and Kurt Nielsen (men) were named Central Region Assistant Coaches of the Year.

-30-