ALVA, Okla. – Runner Garrison Blanton and senior hitter Brooklynn Hesson have been named the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Blue Sky Media Athletes of the Month for September, it was announced on Tuesday.
A sophomore in his first year running for the Northwestern cross country program, Blanton has made his mark in the Ranger record books after he set the top time in program history on Sept. 22 at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Blanton finished the meet with a time of 26:42.8, nearly 20-seconds faster than the previous record holder for an 8K race.
A native of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Blanton began his Northwestern career at the Western Oklahoma Showcase with a top ten finish in the ninth spot, earning him the Great American Conference Men's Runner of the Week. He was the first ever Ranger runner to receive the honor.
Blanton finished the month with a fourth place time at the Red River XC Festival, hosted by Midwestern State (Texas). In what turned out to be a notoriously slow course, Blanton finished four seconds behind his record breaking mark from earlier in the month.
Receiving the Female Athlete of the Month honor, Hesson has been a leader for the Lady Ranger volleyball team this season as she is in the Top Ten in the GAC in both hitting percentage and kills. Hesson is currently hitting .290 this season and has an average of 2.92 kills per set, just behind teammate Hannah Williams.
Hesson, a native of Porter, Texas, is leading the Lady Rangers with 233 points and 210 kills heading into the final month of the regular season. The senior dominated the Panhandle State Tournament at the net, including a 20-kill performance against USAO. She recorded a .500 hitting percentage in the same match.
Northwestern volleyball started the season at 9-1, the best start in program history. Hesson and the Lady Rangers continue their 2018 slate with a three-match road trip beginning with a weekend trip to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, for matches against Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Blanton and the Ranger runners will travel to the FHSU Tiger Invite Saturday morning in Hays, Kanas.
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