RICHARDSON, Texas – Hann Ollison can add another bullet-point to his already illustrious track & field résumé as the American Southwest Conference named him the 2009 ASC Male Athlete of the Year Tuesday, making him the third male athlete in McMurry history to win the award. 

Ollison, a multidisciplinary studies major from Colorado City, recently completed his memorable career as one of the most decorated track & field athletes in NCAA Division III history as he finished his college career a six-time national champion and 17-time all-American.  Last May, Ollison helped lead the McMurry men's outdoor track & field team to a second-place finish as he won the national title in the 400-meter dash and finished second in the 200-meter dash. In the 2009 indoor season, Ollison helped McMurry to a fourth-place team finish as he won the national title in the 400-meter dash and earned all-American honors as part of the McMurry 4x400-meter relay team. For his senior-year performance, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association honored Ollison as the South/Southeast Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year.

Ollison might be best remembered for his performance at the 2008 Outdoor National Championship where he helped contribute to 34 of McMurry's 35 team points en route to leading McMurry to its first-ever team National Championship. Ollison finished out his McMurry career as a two-time national champion in the outdoor 400-meter dash, a two-time national champion in the indoor 400-meter dash, and a two-time member of the national champion McMurry outdoor 4x100-meter relay team. Ollison is also a three-time ASC Male Outstanding Track Athlete of the Year award winner and helped lead McMurry to four ASC titles during his collegiate career.

Ollison becomes McMurry’s third male winner of the ASC Athlete of the Year award, joining fellow tracksters Cody Brotherton (2004-05) and Brad Parris (1999-00). McMurry has had six all-time winners, as golfer Brittany Cary (2003-04), trackster Talitha Belcher (2000-01) and basketball player Ogonna Merritt (1999-00) took female honors. McMurry trails only the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (seven) for most all-time ASC Athletes of the Year.

The American Southwest Conference Athlete of the Year award, in its tenth year, recognizes the male and female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments best contributed to their sport, their institution’s overall athletic program and to the conference. Each ASC member institution nominates its campus Athlete of the Year award recipients to the conference-wide ballot and then the conference’s sports information directors and ASC Outstanding Media Service Award members vote on the ballot. 

In addition to Ollison winning ASC Male Athlete of the Year, he was also named McMurry’s Male Campus Athlete of the Year.  McMurry junior volleyball standout Terah Brown was named McMurry’s Female Campus Athlete of the Year.

Brown, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Abilene, was the ASC West Division Player of the Week three times, and was the only player in the conference to earn both offensive and defense Player of the Week awards.  At the conclusion of the season, Brown finished in the top ten in the conference in four stat categories (hitting percentage, kills, service aces, and blocks) and was selected to the ASC West Division First Team.  In addition, Brown was voted the ASC West Division Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the ASC West Division Most Valuable Player.  Furthermore, Brown was selected to the First Team All-Region and became the first player in the history of McMurry volleyball to earn AVCA All-American recognition as she was an honorable mention selection.

Hardin-Simmons’ track standout Ashley Huston won the ASC Female Athlete of the Year for her stellar senior season. 

ALL-TIME ASC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Year            Male                                                                                Female

2008-09 MEMBER CAMPUS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Institution                                              Male                                                        Female