For the first time in Club history, the Ottawa Lions gathered on the Mondo surface at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility to celebrate their annual awards banquet. Last night’s ceremony was a unique event as it also served to recognize the stand out efforts from the COVID shortened 2019-20 season. In total, 22 athletes were recognized for their outstanding achievements on the track and in the field, while the Sean Cole Memorial award for dedication to Club service was presented to long time official Rick Watkins for the leadership he has shown in building a strong team of officials in the Ottawa area in recent years.
The Gilbert Awards, named in honour of Olympic champion Glenroy Gilbert, are handed out annually to the most outstanding male and female athletes in the Club for both track and field events. Olympians Tim Nedow and Melissa Bishop-Nriagu captured their sixth and seventh Gilbert awards respectively, while 800 metre runner Stephen Evans and javelin thrower Olivia Merritt were both first time Gilbert winners Saturday night.
Saturday night’s victory was the sixth straight of Nedow in the men’s field event category, equaling the Club best of former decathlete Patrick Arbour. The Brockville native surpassed the Olympic shot put standard with a heave of 21.11 metres in his opening meet of the season back in April to qualify for his second Games. Hampered by an injury in Tokyo, Nedow placed 31st.
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu took home top honours among female track athletes for the seventh time and the first since the birth of her daughter Corinne in 2018. The 31 year old qualified for her third Olympic Games on the strength of a seasonal best effort of one minute and 58.36 for 800 metres. Bishop-Nriagu also experimented with the 1500 metres more in 2021, shattering her previous Club record by nearly five seconds and just missing out on the Olympic standard in a second event.
Fellow 800 metre runner Stephen Evans took home his first Gilbert Award for men’s track on the strength of a new personal best effort that moved him to second on the Club’s all-time list. The former USports champion consistently ranked among the top 800 metre runners in Canada throughout he season and culminated his season with a personal best performance of 1:48.28 to place second at in an American Track League.
Olivia Merritt finished the 2021 season ranked among the top javelin throwers in Ontario on the strength of a new personal best effort of 45.08 metres at one of our summer Twilight Meets. Merritt’s throw also moved her to tenth on the Club’s all-time rankings in the event.
The most outstanding athletes in the under-20 category went to a pair of athletes who each produced international level performances in 2021. Sprint hurdler David Adeleye, who took home the honour for top male, just dipped under the global standard for this year’s World U20 Championships with his 14.14 second clocking en route to a third place finish at the Ontario championships.
Bianca Borgella set multiple Canadian records in all three of the sprint events in the T13 category in 2021 including besting the 100 metre standard for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The University of Ottawa student was a finalist over 200 metres at the provincial championships and helped anchor the Lions to a second place finish in the 4×100 metre relay.
With the honour last night, Borgella became the second T13 athlete in Club history to be named most outstanding U20 athlete. Three time Paralympic medalist Stuart McGregor received the same honour in 1998. In addition to her U20 award, Bianca also received the Sam Estwick Memorial Award for most outstanding para athlete.
Luca Nicoletti took home the honour of most outstanding male in the under-18 category after capture the under-16 award two years ago. Nicoletti had a splendid season on the track, moving to number five all-time on the U18 200 metre list with a blistering 21.97 second clocking and nabbing one gold and three silvers at the Ontario Championships.
The top under-18 athlete on the women’s side was distance runner Amelia Van Brabant. The grade 11 student had a break out summer on the track that saw her smash personal best across all her events – highlighted by a 9:57.73 clocking to win gold over 3000 metres at the Ontario Under-20 Championships. It was the seventh fastest time among U18 women in Club history.
The honour of most outstanding U16 female was shared between the pair of Koree Yach and Joceyln Giannotti. Yach was a gold medalist as part of the U18 winning 4×800 relay that recorded the fifth fastest time at that age level in Club history and recorded the third fastest 2000 metre steeplechase among U16 athletes in the Club. Giannotti was a bronze medalist at 2000 metres at the Ontario U16 Championships.
Serge Faucher, a double gold medalist over 200 and 400 metres at the Ontario Masters Championship, took home the honour of most outstanding male masters athlete. Similarly, Kimberley Howitt received top billing as female masters athlete for her double gold at 400 and 800 metres at the provincial championships.
The Lions also recognized Olympic team members Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Lauren Gale, Tim Nedow, and head coach Glenroy Gilbert as recipients of the President’s Award, handed out annually to athletes who represented their country on a national team in international competition.
Below is a complete list of those recognized last night.
Gilbert Awards (Senior)
Female
Track: Melissa Bishop-Nriagu
Field: Olivia Merritt
Male
Track: Stephen Evans
Field: Tim Nedow
Most Outstanding U20
Female: Bianca Borgella
Male: David Adeleye
Most Outstanding U18
Female: Amelia Van Brabant
Male: Luca Nicoletti
Most Outstanding U16
Female: Koree Yach and Jocelyn Giannotti
Male: Not Awarded
Most Outstanding U14
Female: Not awarded
Male: Not awarded
Denis Landry Award (Most Outstanding University of Ottawa)
Female: Madison Clarke (2020) / Maeliss Trapeau (2021)
Male: Kyle Sprague (2020) / Quinn Lyness (2021)
Most Outstanding Carleton University
Female: Pippa Norman (2020)
Male: Michael Pinnock (2020)
Sam Estwick Award (Most Outstanding Para Athlete)
Bianca Borgella
Most Outstanding Cross Country
Female: Ivy Bialowas (2021)
Male: Kevin Robertson (2020) / Sebastian Cino (2021)
Most Outstanding Masters
Female: Wendy Alexis (2020) / Kimberley Howitt (2021)
Male: Serge Faucher (2021)
Most Outstanding Road Racing
Not awarded
Most Outstanding Combined Events
Not awarded
Sean Cole Memorial Award (Dedication to Club Service)
Rick Watkins
President’s Award (National Team Member)
Kevin Robertson (2020 Pan Am Cross Country)
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu (2021 Olympic Team)
Lauren Gale (2021 Olympic Team)
Tim Nedow (2021 Olympic Team)
Glenroy Gilbert (2021 Olympic Team)