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May 25, 2018

Hayward Wins 2018 Women's Track & Field Wheeler Award

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The NCCAA is pleased to announce that Chelsea Hayward of Roberts Wesleyan College has been named the 2018 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Wheeler Award recipient. Hayward is a senior from Litchfield, Connecticut.

Roberts Wesleyan track and field has an illustrious history with successful teams and athletes. Hayward, a sprinter on the team for the last four years will be considered, to this point, the best sprinter ever to take the track for Roberts. The senior holds school records in the 100m (11.68), 200m (23.46), 400m (55.90), 4x100 (47.03), and 4x400 (3:59.17).

Last season Hayward qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in both indoor and outdoor. For indoor Hayward took fourth overall in the 200m to earn All-American status. For the outdoor season she qualified for both the 100m and 200m taking third place in the 200m to earn her second All-American award.

The momentum from last year has carried into the 2017-18 seasons as Hayward has continued her dominance in the sprinting events. During the indoor season Hayward won the 60m and 200m at the NCCAA National Championships just as she had done in 2016 and 2017, setting the national meet record in both events.  At the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships Hayward had her best finish yet taking second place in the 200m while gaining All-American status for the third time. With the impressive indoor season Hayward was named the NCAA DII East Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The senior was also named the East Coast Conference Athlete of the Year for the fourth time.

Off the track things don't slow down for Chelsea either. As a nursing major Hayward studies in one of the most intensive programs at Roberts Wesleyan, but the senior has held a 3.7 cumulative GPA. Hayward is a three time NCAA DII All-Academic recipient and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.

In addition to her athletic pursuits and rigorous academic schedule Hayward makes her faith a priority. With the opportunity to go to many other college/universities for track and field Hayward was set on attending a Christian college where she would be surrounded by Christian teammates and friends to help encourage her in her walk with the Lord.

Seeing success in nearly every aspect of her college career Hayward remains humble. "Chelsea's success is extraordinary," said head coach Merl McGinnis. "But she enjoys just being with her teammates on and off the track. "Her teammates are inspired by her work ethic and commitment. The great thing about Chelsea is that she is just one of the girls on the track team."