FAIRHOPE, Ala. – Two Fairhope runners have been named the 2010 Baldwin County Cross-Country Runners of the Year.

Hannah Evans, the 2010 Baldwin County meet girls champion, and Shawn Hinton, this year's boys county meet winner are the 2010 runners of the year, Fairhope head coach Tim Yahr said.

A freshman, Evans began running nearly year-round in the summer before her eighth-grade year.

"This year she has been working on her form and pacing and learning to run with people much faster than she is right now," Yahr said. "Hannah has shown a love for the sport. Last year as an eighth grader, she qualified for the 6A state (Track) meet in the 1600 and has continued that success in the 2010 cross-country season. This year she set the Fairhope High 5K record at 19:17, won the Baldwin County championships, placed third at the section meet and placed highest for any Baldwin County girl at the state meet.

"Hannah has been working very hard," he added. "She runs hard every day and enjoys doing it. She is doing great in the classroom and developing into an excellent student-athlete. She has done some great things so far and is working to build on that success as she continues her high school running career."

Hinton is a junior who is part of the team as an IB (International Baccalaureate) student from Elberta. He placed third for the team as a freshman at the state meet and was the first finisher for the Fairhope boys in 2009 and 2010, Yahr said, adding that he made a solid mark on the track last spring as well.

"Shawn was one of only two athletes from the Mobile-Baldwin area to qualify for the state meet in the 3200 in 2009. Last year, in 2010, he won the 3200 6A section meet race.

"This year in cross country Shawn won the boys varsity division of the Cross Country Stampede (Pensacola, Fla.), he was the fastest runner at the Fairhope City Pier Race, he won the Baldwin County Championship, was third in the section meet, and was the second fastest 6A boy in the state cross country meet from Mobile or Baldwin County. Shawn's academic integrity is demonstrated by his willingness to travel from Elberta and back every day to be mentally challenged in the IB program. His times in this year's biggest meets show his strength and mental toughness - 17:14 (win at County), 17:29 (7 seconds behind first place at sections), and 17:05 (state meet 28th place 6A)."

The Baldwin County Cross Country Runners of the Year are selected from submissions by the county's cross country coaches.