AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – To the surprise of almost nobody, Otterbein University senior
Chase Hampton has been voted Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Male Runner of the Year in Cross Country, as selected by the league coaches.
Hampton (Hilliard/Darby) becomes Otterbein's first Runner of the Year on the men's side since back in 2005, when Hall of Famer Mike Sawicki repeated to claim the award in both the 2004 and 2005 campaigns. He is the third different Cardinal to claim the status, with Troy Rathge (1999) also in the group.
"It's been an incredible honor to represent Otterbein on the cross country course," Hampton said. "There have been ups and downs, but being able to put on a jersey and represent something bigger than yourself is special. I can't imagine a better way to end my fall career."
This past fall was a well-accomplished stretch for Hampton, who won four different meets and never finished outside of the top six until the NCAA Championships. He won the Division III All-Ohio meet by 13 seconds over the field and then claimed an OAC individual crown by six seconds, spearheading the Cardinals to team titles in both.
Hampton also took fourth place at the Pre-National Meet in early October, sixth place at the Inter-Regional Rumble up at Oberlin, and then delivered his standout performance with a victory at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Michigan.
He outkicked a Calvin runner over the final 400-500 meters, entering the final stretch to a loud roar and crossing the finish line first in the field of 255 competitors. His effort made him just the fourth person in program history to win a regional, joining a heralded short list that included Sawicki, Scott Alpeter and Tom Schnurr.
"It would be naïve to not recognize that this award is a culmination of years, and years of miles, and people pouring into me," Hampton added. "I am so immensely grateful for those who have impacted me up to this point and I'm excited to get to work on the track."
Hampton then earned the elusive All-American award a few weeks ago at the NCAA's, staying with the lead pack early and eventually taking 12th place on the national scene in Louisville, Ky. He covered the course in 24:42, crossing just two seconds out of the top-10, as his squad took 20th in the nation.
Hampton and the rest of his Cardinal teammates will now look to relax over the holidays before gearing up in January to begin indoor track season.
