Masterson honored in ceremony

By Amaelle Caron

The Blue Dragon Athletic Department honored long-time coach Terry Masterson on Sept. 12. They renamed the cross-country invitational held here, “The Terry Masterson Classic.”

The races that day took place at Westar/Prairie Ridge Park and started with the women’s team. Masterson was the cross-country coach at HCC from 1970 till 2010, his year of retirement.

He established the women’s cross-country program in 1981 and coached them until his retirement.

He was invited to be the race starter, to honor him and his career at HCC.

When Masterson fired the gun for the women’s race, people launched red and blue balloons in the air at the starting line.

Masterson was an athlete at HCC when he was a student. He become a coach for cross-country, as well as for track and field, in 1970.

He coached for 40 years. In 2001, his cross-country women’s team won the NJCAA championship.

The men’s team won the regional championship seven times during his years of coaching and the womens’ team won the Region IV title once.

Masterson was a successful HCC student athlete who competed in both football and track.

The idea of renaming the invitational cross-country event came from the current coach, Justin Riggs, who wanted to honor the coach he had while he was running as a Blue Dragon.

Masterson is an example for many athletes on campus. For many, it was an honor to have him at HCC.

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