After receiving the largest number of nominations in club history, its no wonder the Lions took their largest share of hardware home from last weekend’s Athletics Ontario Awards Banquet as five athletes were recognized with six awards. Headlining the list of winners was world silver medalist Melissa Bishop, who easily captured her first provincial award in the senior women’s distance category. Bishop’s season also included victory at the Pan Am Games and a new Canadian record over 800m. With all the success, she was also named Athletics Ontario Fan Favourite Female Athlete of the Year.
Two of Bishop’s world championship teammates were also honoured as throwers Tim Nedow and Sultana Frizell were recognized as the best in the province. For Frizell, the honour was the seventh straight in the senior women’s throws category. In fact, she’s the only woman to ever win the award since it’s inception in 2008. For Nedow, it was his fourth straight victory after picking up silver at the Pan Am Games.
The final two winners of the night were Lauren Gale and Shona McCullough. Both ladies had phenomenal season in 2015. Gale was a four time medalist at the Canadian Legion Championships in August, including gold in both the midget girls 200m and 300m. Lauren also set a new Legion record in the 200m final with her time of 24.32 seconds. She also picked up silver in the 200m hurdles and helped the youth girls 4x400m relay to a bronze. McCullough was recognized for a season that included two gold medals in youth girls 1500m and 3000m at the Legion Championships as well as an 11th place finish at the IAAF World Youth Championships over 3000m.
