» 2009 Best Track and Field Athletes in Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2009

Athletics Canada announces 2009 Award Recipients at Awards Gala

VANCOUVER – Athletics Canada announced today the winners of its annual awards at the 2009 Awards Gala presented by Mondo. Held in Vancouver, BC, the ceremony coincides with the 2009 Technical Congress. Congratulations to all recipients, finalists and nominees.

Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, Whitby, ON

· Jack W. Davies Trophy – Outstanding Overall Athlete of the Year

· Phil A. Edwards Memorial Trophy – Outstanding Athlete of the Year in Track Events

· Cal D. Bricker Memorial Trophy – Single Outstanding Performance of the Year

Priscilla’s incredible performances throughout the year, highlighted by her silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in the 100 metre hurdles, aided her in capturing these three awards. She was the world leader for over a month (May 8 to June 20), as well as bettered her own personal best on numerous occasions. To close her season Priscilla placed fourth in one of athletics’ most competitive events at the World Athletics Final in a race where 2nd through 5th place registered identical finishing times.

Sultana Frizell, Perth, ON

· F.N.A. Rowell Trophy – Outstanding Athlete of the Year in Field Events

Sultana started the outdoor season with a bang breaking and then bettering her Canadian Record. Her strong performances took her to her first World Championships where she finished 10th and was the first Canadian women to ever make it into a World Championship hammer throw final.

Diane Roy, Hatley, QC

· Outstanding Para-Athlete of the Year – Wheelchair Award

Three-time Canadian Champion in 2009, Diane Roy, a T54 classification wheelchair racer captured the national titles in the 400, 800 and 1500 metre events. Diane also won bronze at the Boston Marathon, silver medals at the Swiss Open (in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m) and captured gold and bronze medals at the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial in the 400m and 1500m respectively.

Brianne Theisen, Humboldt, SK

· Combined Events Athlete of the Year

For her first time ever on the World stage Brianne Theisen took on seven events in the Heptathlon at the World Championships, finishing 15th and setting three event personal bests along the way. For the University of Oregon Brianne captured the bronze at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and Gold while setting a personal best at the NCAA Outdoor Championships; she holds four records for Oregon including the Heptathlon, Pentathlon, 60 metre hurdles and 100 metre hurdles. She is the 2009 Canadian Champion in the Heptathlon.

James Steacy, Lethbridge, AB

· Dr. Fred Tees Memorial Trophy – Outstanding Athlete enrolled in a Canadian University

The highlight of Jim’s year was stepping on the podium at Summer Universiade (FISU) with a silver medal hanging from his neck; Jim was also the Canadian team flag bearer for the opening ceremonies. His strong season included two Canada West Championships gold medals in the shot put and weight throw. Jim was undefeated in the weight throw for his entire University career and undefeated in the shot put this season, he went on to capture the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) titles while breaking another meet, provincial and school record in the weight throw. He was the 2009 Canadian Champion in the hammer throw.

Reid Coolsaet, Hamilton, ON

· Fred Begley Memorial Trophy – Outstanding Athlete of the Year in Off-Track Events

Running in his first marathon ever Reid captured the 2009 Canadian Marathon title. Qualifying as a member of the World Cup team competing in Berlin at the World Championships, Reid set a new personal best finishing 25th overall and was the top Canadian finisher in the marathon.

Alister McQueen, Calgary, AB

· Outstanding Para-Athlete of the Year  – Ambulatory Award

At the IWAS World Junior Championships Alister took centre stage in the T44 amputee classification winning three gold medals, setting one Canadian Record (100m), and three World Junior Records (100m, 200m, 400m). Alister is the 2009 Canadian Champion in all three events, as well he holds all three Canadian Records.

Derek Drouin, Corunna, ON

· Eric E. Coy Trophy – Outstanding Junior Athlete of the Year

Derek captured gold at the Pan American Junior Championships in the high jump while setting a new Canadian Junior and Meet Record. He is the 2009 Canadian Junior High Jump Champion and Canadian Senior Championships silver medalist. Competing for Indiana University, Drouin captured the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships silver medal, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and bettered the 35 year standing Indiana State High Jump Record.

Aaron Brown, Toronto, ON

· Myrtle Cook Trophy – Outstanding Youth Athlete of the Year

At the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships Brown ran four strong races in the 100 metres; first he bettered the Canadian Youth Record in the quarter-final and then went on to capture the silver medal.  Brown’s strong season continued winning gold at the Legion Canadian Youth Championships.

Anthony McCleary, Pickering, ON

· Coach of the Year

This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Coach of the Year is Anthony McCleary. Anthony is the head coach at Elite Edge Club as well as the personal coach to Olympic Bronze Medalist and World Championships Silver Medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep.  McCleary also coaches Canadian female 100m champion Toyin Olupona.

Jennifer Campbell, Winnipeg, MB

· Official of the Year

The National Officials Committee recognized Jennifer Campbell as the 2009 recipient of the Official of the Year Award. Athletics Canada is extremely proud to have worked with the National Officials Committee in recognizing this very deserving recipient for all of her contributions to officiating and the sport.

For more information regarding Athletics Canada’s Annual Awards please visit: www.athletics.ca/page.asp?id=54.

-AC-

Emily Hooper
Coordinator, Public Relations and Corporate Services
Athletics Canada
(613) 260-5580 Ext. 3332
ehooper@athletics.ca

Athletics Canada names 2009 Award Finalists

Monday, October 26, 2009

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada announced today the three finalists for each awards category as a lead in to the 2009 Athletics Canada Awards Gala. The finalists and winners are chosen by Athletics Canada’s Awards Committee, the winners will be honoured at the Gala to be held Saturday November 14th in Vancouver, BC.

2009 Award Finalists

Jack W. Davies Trophy Overall Athlete of the Year
Name	Hometown	Accomplishment
Perdita Felicien	Pickering, ON	World Championship Finalist (100mH)
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep	Whitby, ON	World Championship Silver Medalist (100mH)
Gary Reed	Victoria, BC	World Athletics Final Silver Medalist (800m)
Cal D. Bricker Memorial Trophy
Single Outstanding Performance of the Year
Julie Labonté	Ste-Justine, QC	Canadian Junior Record, record had stood since 1964, at Canadian Junior Championships (Shot Put)
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep	Whitby, ON	World Championship Silver Medalist (100mH)
Gary Reed	Victoria, BC	World Athletics Final Silver Medalist (800m)
Phil A. Edwards Trophy
Track Athlete of the Year
Perdita Felicien	Pickering, ON	Canadian Champion & World Championship Finalist (100mH)
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep	Whitby, ON	World Championship Silver Medalist (100mH)
Gary Reed	Victoria, BC	Canadian Champion & World Athletics Final Silver Medalist (800m)
F.N.A. Rowell Trophy
Field Athlete of the Year
Sultana Frizell	Kamloops, BC	World Championship Finalist (Hammer Throw)
Julie Labonté	Ste Justine, Qc	Canadian Junior Champion & Canadian Junior Record (Shot Put)
Jim Steacy	Lethbridge, AB	Summer Universiade, FISU Silver Medalist (Hammer Throw)
Fred Begley Memorial Trophy
Off-Track Athlete of the Year
Simon Bairu	Regina, SK	Canadian Cross Country Champion
Reid Coolsaet	Hamilton, ON	Canadian Champion & Top Canadian finisher at World Championships (Marathon)
Evan Dunfee	Richmond, BC	Canadian Junior Champion & CAN-USA Dual Meet Gold Medalist (10km Race Walk)
Combined Events Award
Athlete of the Year in Combined Events
Jamie Adjetey-Nelson	Windsor, ON	Summer Universiade, FISU 6th (Decathlon)
Brianne Theisen	Humboldt, SK	Canadian Champion & 15th at the World Championships (Heptathlon)
Eric E. Coy Trophy
Junior Athlete of the Year
Derek Drouin	Corunna, ON	Pan American Junior Championships Gold Medalist & Canadian Junior Record (High Jump)
Julie Labonté	Ste Justine, QC	Canadian Junior Champion & Canadian Junior Record (Shot Put)
Alister McQueen	Calgary, AB	3-time IWAS World Juniors Gold Medalist & World Junior Records (T44 100m-400m)
Myrtle Cook Trophy
Youth Athlete of the Year
Aaron Brown	Toronto, ON	World Youth Championships Silver Medalist & Canadian Youth Record (100m)
Isaiah Christophe	Brampton, ON	4-time IWAS World Juniors Gold Medalist (T54 100m-800m)
Djange Lovett	Langley, BC	World Youth Championships Bronze Medalist & Canadian Youth Record (High Jump)
Gregory MacNeill	London, ON	World Youth Championships Bronze Medalist (110mH)
Dr. Fred Tees Memorial Trophy
Best University Athlete of the Year
Jamie Adjetey-Nelson	Windsor, ON	CIS Championships Gold Medalist (Pentathlon) & 6th at FISU
Sam Effah	Calgary, AB	CIS Championships Gold Medalist & FISU Finalist (200m)
James Steacy	Lethbridge, AB	CIS Championships Gold Medalist & FISU Silver Medalist (Hammer Throw)
Outstanding Para-Athlete of the Year – Wheelchair Events
Josh Cassidy	Oakville, ON	Daniela Jutzeler Memorial Bronze Medalist (T54 5000m)
Keira Frie	Saskatoon, SK	IWAS World Junior Championships Multi Medalist (T54 100m-1500m)
Diane Roy	Hatley, QC	Daniela Jutzeler Memorial Gold Medalist (T54 400m)
Outstanding Para-Athlete of the Year – Ambulatory Events
Noella Klawitter	Carleton Place, ON	Canadian Champion & Canadian Record (T12 400m)
Alister McQueen	Calgary, AB	3-time IWAS World Juniors Gold Medalist & World Junior Records (T44 100m-400m)
Coach of the Year
Anthony McCleary	Pickering, ON	Coach at Elite Edge Club, coach of Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (100mH) and Toyin Olupona (100m)
Dave Scott-Thomas	Guelph, ON	Coach at the University of Guelph and Speed River Track and Field Club producing 7 individual Canadian Champions in 2009.
Brenda Van Tighem	Calgary, AB	The Lead Power and Speed coach at the University of Calgary; personal coach to Sam Effah (100 & 200m) and Amonn Nelson (200m&400m)

Tickets for the Awards Gala, which include a cocktail reception beginning at 6:00pm followed with dinner at 7:00pm are now on sale now for $50.00. To purchase your ticket please contact Chris Woods at (613) 260-5580 Ext. 3315 or cwoods@athletics.ca.

For more information on Athletics Canada’s Awards please visit: www.athletics.ca/page.asp?id=54.

- AC -