The pride gathered Saturday night to honour another successful season for the Lions on the track and in the field as we handed out awards in 22 categories.
Shot putter Tim Nedow was by far the headline club performer in 2018 with two international medals and his sixth straight Canadian title. For his efforts, Nedow was awarded with his fourth straight Gilbert award for Most Outstanding Male Field Performer. The Brockville native got his season off to a glowing start after his sixth round effort at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia garnered him his second straight bronze medal. He then capped things off at the NACAC Championships with silver and his first outdoor heave in excess of 21 metres.
On the women’s side, it was another thrower who garnered the Gilbert Award in the field. After her 12 year winning streak was ended last year, hammer thrower Sultana Frizell got back in the winner’s circle following her bronze medal performance at nationals and a fourth place finish at the Commonwealth Games.
It was a story of first time winners for both men’s and women’s victors of the Gilbert Awards on the track. Farah Jacques became just the third women to win since 2003 following a strangle hold on the award from both Esther Akinsulie (2004-2011) and Melissa Bishop (2012-2017). The Olympian was in transition this past year switching from the sprints to the 100 metre hurdles which culminated in a bronze medal at the Canadian Championships and equal third all-time in club history with a 13.31 second clocking at a meet in Belgium.
On the men’s side, Saj Alhaddad garnered his first Gilbert following a breakout season that included his first national championship medal. Alhaddad rocketed out of the blocks this spring with a trio of successive wins in the 400 metre hurdles south of the border including a personal best effort of 51.34 seconds which moved him to fourth in club history.
One of the most hotly contested awards was that for most outstanding junior female athlete, with newly minted Canadian Junior Record holder Keira Christie-Galloway garnering her fourth straight age class award. The University of Ottawa sophmore broke Karen Nelson’s 36 year old 100 metre hurdle record with a time of 13.31 seconds in June on her way to running into the semi-finals at the U20 World Championships in Finland. Battling Christie-Galloway for the award were no less than three fellow competitors at the U20 World Championships – Sharelle Samuel, Maeliss Trapeau and Lauren Gale. Each lady would have been a near shoe-in for the award in any other year.
Other award winner’s from Saturday’s festivities included:
Most Outstanding Junior
Male: Brandon Ovington
Most Outstanding Youth
Female: Erin Sweeney
Male: Joe Fast
Most Outstanding Midget
Female: Vienna Courteau
Male: Sam Frankowski
Most Outstanding Bantam
Female: Not awarded
Male: Logan Ladurantaye
Denis Landry Award (Most Outstanding University of Ottawa)
Female: Keira Christie-Galloway
Male: Stephen Evans
Most Outstanding Carleton University
Female: Alexandra Telford
Male: Sebastian Saville
Sam Estwick Award (Most Outstanding Para Athlete)
Joshua Cassidy
Most Outstanding Cross Country
Female: Shona McCulloch
Male: Jonathan Rioux
Most Outstanding Masters
Kim Ethier
Most Outstanding Road Racing
Tommy Des Brisay
Most Outstanding Combined Events
John Claude van Biljon
Sean Cole Memorial Award (Dedication to Club Service)
Rick Watkins and Cecilia Brand & Mark Hayes