Wingate’s Watson, Hines Repeat As Cross Country Scholar Athletes

ROCK HILL, SC - For the second consecutive year, a pair of outstanding cross country runners who also excel in the classroom from Wingate University have been selected as the 2008 South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athletes for men's and women's cross country.

Wingate University senior Amber Hines, the 2006 conference women's Runner of the Year, and Wingate senior Jayce Watson, a three-time All-Conference performer and the 2007 SAC Runner of the Year, were selected the 2008 recipients, repeating awards they received in 2007.

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

This year, Amber has four top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish in the Greensboro Invitational.

Amber is a two-time Academic All-American, the 2006 SAC women's runner of the year, and a three-time All-Conference selection. She finished second in the Southeast Region meet in 2006 and advanced to the national championship race.

Amber Hines

Jayce Watson

Amber 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.

Amber 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.

Jayce is a three-time All-Conference runner and the defending SAC runner of the year. He finished second in both the 2006 and 2007 Southeast Region meet and earned a trip both years to the national championship.

This season, he has been the dominant runner in the league, winning four of the seven races he has competed in and was named SAC Runner of the Week five (six) times.

Jayce has a 3.752 GPA as a mathematics major. He has been named to the Wingate President's list four times as well as the Dean's List and the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. He is also in two national honor fraternities.

Jayce 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.