Twiest, along with co-recipient Tyrone Boucaud of Colby, was one of two athletes to win multiple events at the championships, held May 2 at Colby College in Waterville. Twiest placed first in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:28.07. Twiest had won the same event a week prior at the New England Small College Athletic Conference championships, qualifying for the NCAA Division III national championships in the process. He also won the the State 5000-meter run championship with a time of 15:24.60.

Twiest is the ninth Bates athlete in history to win the Hillman award, and the first since William Tyler '80. The award is named after Alan C. Hillman, a Bowdoin College graduate who was killed in World War II as a bomber navigator. The award was established in 1950.