CORVALLIS, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University's Elizabeth Grandle continues to add to her remarkable season, earning the Cascade Collegiate Conference McDonald's Track & Field Athlete of the Year award, presented by Urban Edge Network, announced Thursday morning.

Grandle, from Molalla, Oregon, received the honor following an impressive return to competition after battling back from an injury last season. She capped her comeback by winning the NAIA National Championship in the women's heptathlon with 5,207 points.

Along the way, Grandle also claimed the CCC Heptathlon Championship, setting both the Eastern Oregon program record and the CCC Championship meet record. During the conference meet, she posted the top performances in the high jump, shot put, 100-meter hurdles, 200 meters, and javelin, building a national lead of 300 points heading into the NAIA National Championships.

The award adds to an already extensive list of honors for Grandle this season. Her standout performance at the CCC Championships earned her both CCC Most Valuable Performer of the Meet honors — after contributing 31 points to Eastern Oregon's runner-up finish — and Most Outstanding Performer of the Meet recognition. She was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year, earned CCC Field Athlete of the Week honors three times throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, and was selected as an NAIA Field Athlete of the Week. 

With another year of experience under her belt, Grandle appears poised for even more standout performances next season.