JMU'S MEGHAN BAIN RECEIVES 2009 JOHN RANDOLPH INSPIRATION AWARD
RICHMOND, Va. (April 28, 2009) ? James Madison junior Meghan Bain (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) has been selected as the winner of the 2009 John H. Randolph Inspiration Award by the Colonial Athletic Association.
The award recognizes individuals who through strength of character and human spirit serve as an inspiration to all to maximize their potential and ability for success. It is named after former William & Mary athletic director John Randolph, who lost a courageous battle with cancer in 1995.
Bain, a standout field hockey player for the Dukes, was struck by a car in the early morning hours of March 15, 2008. She remained in a coma for three days as a result of a traumatic brain injury and suffered a multitude of other injuries including a right lung collapse, multiple facial fractures, right retinal hemorrhage, lacerations to the scalp and shoulder and a right tibia plateau fracture. Miraculously, Bain was able to be transferred to a rehabilitation hospital just 10 days after the accident and underwent three weeks of physical and cognitive treatment and rehabilitation.
On April 16, Bain began rigorous three-hour cognitive therapy sessions twice a week. She completed those sessions in mid-July and enrolled in a full load of classes for the fall semester at JMU. Bain also underwent physical therapy for the fracture in her right knee and was cleared to begin running in early July.
Against long odds, Bain began preseason practices with the JMU field hockey team on August 14, 2008, complete with protective headgear and a specialized mouth guard. She started 20 games for the Dukes and contributed nine goals, including four game-winners, for a JMU squad that went 18-3, captured its third straight CAA championship and advanced to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship.
Bain was chosen to the 2008 CAA All-Tournament team, adding to her long list of accomplishments. She earned CAA and national Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and was also a third-team All-American. In 2007, she received second-team all-region and all-conference accolades. Bain will enter her senior year ranked 11th on JMU’s career goals list with 36.
CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager presented Bain with the Randolph Award on Monday night as part of JMU’s annual awards banquet.