2015 CIS track & field season awards announced

WINDSOR, Ont. (CIS) – The national season award winners were announced Thursday morning prior to the start of the 2015 CIS indoor track and field championships.

On the women's side, Rebecca Haworth of the Dalhousie Tigers received the Student-Athlete Community Service Award for the third straight year. She was accompanied in the winner's circle by Toronto's Sasha Gollish (outstanding track event performer), York's Brittany Crew (outstanding field performer) and Trinity Western's Claudette Allen (rookie of the year).

In men's competition, Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of the Laval Rouge et Or was voted track MVP for the second time in three seasons. The other recipients were York's Eric Brathwaite (field MVP), Windsor's Angelo Bortolin (top freshman) and Moncton's Alexandre Coholan (Student-Athlete Community Service Award).

The three-day CIS meet runs from Thursday to Saturday at the University of Windsor's St. Denis Centre. Selected events will be webcast throughout the championships on www.CIS-SIC.tv. 

WOMEN'S AWARDS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (TRACK EVENTS): Sasha Gollish, Toronto

Gollish won three individual titles at the OUA championships and was a member of a Canadian record-breaking relay team in leading the Varsity Blues to their first women's title since 2004. She, along with teammates Gabriela Stafford, Rachel Jewett and Honor Walmsley, set a new York University field house, U of T, OUA and Canadian standard in the 4x800, clocking a time of 8:37.18.

The Toronto native also set a new OUA mark in the 600m, breaking Giselle Plantz's 1982 time of 1:30.56 with a 1:30.41 performance. Gollish, a civil engineering PhD candidate, also earned the OUA gold medals in the 1,500m (4:22.15) and 3,000m (9:21.58) races. She currently holds the top time in CIS in the 1,000m (2:41.45) and ranks among the top five runners in the 600m, 1,500m and 3,000m events.

"Sasha is truly a University of Toronto developed student athlete. She started in our junior development track program back in 1996," said head coach Carl Georgevski. "She is an extremely bright, talented and compassionate woman. From a coaches' perspective, she is the total package, a leader on and off the track. She has had a wonderful competitive season and we are looking forward to summer for even a better season."

Nominees from other regional associations were Sarah Myatt of UNB (AUS), Laurence Beaudet of Sherbrooke (RSEQ) and Rachel François of Victoria (Canada West).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (FIELD EVENTS): Brittany Crew, York

Crew had a record-breaking season in her second year with the Lions and swept the gold medals in the throwing events at the OUA championships. She dominated the shot put with a mark of 16.11 metres, breaking her old record by 31 centimetres to win by nearly two metres. The native of East York, Ont., followed that up with another impressive showing in the weight throw with a distance of 18.69, surpassing the OUA record by 62cm and again winning by more than one metre.

Crew, a silver medallist in the shot put in her first CIS championship last year, is undefeated in the event this season and has reached the podium in every weight throw competition she has participated in so far this year. She is ranked No. 1 in the country in both throwing events heading into the national meet.

"In her short time at York, Brittany has made a major impact on our program, rewriting the record book in the shot put and weight throw," said head coach Colin Inglis. "I have no doubt that before her time is up at York, she will not only continue to rewrite our school and conference records, but that she will also set her own CIS records too."

The other nominees were Rebecca Haworth of Dalhousie (AUS), Laurence Beaudet of Sherbrooke (RSEQ) and Nicole Oudenaarden of Calgary (Canada West).

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Claudette Allen, Trinity Western

After joining the Spartans this year as a highly-touted recruit, Allen, who hails from New Longville, Jamaica and competed at the 2014 world junior championships, proved to be very much as advertised.

Competing in her first Canada West championships, Allen earned a gold medal in the long jump with a CIS-leading mark of 6.22 metres and a silver medal in the triple jump, going 11.97m. Earlier this year, she posted a season-best 12.09m triple jump. Allen also finished seventh in the 60m at the conference meet and helped the Spartans to a fourth-place finish in the 4x200m relay.

"Claudette is a championship performer," said head coach Laurier Primeau. "Basically, she gets through the 'regular season' and then when the 'playoffs' start, Claudette is ready to go. She had a phenomenal weekend at the Canada West championships and really shined when it mattered most."

The other nominees were Hayley Wilson of St. Francis Xavier (AUS), Maïté Bouchard of Sherbrooke (RSEQ) and Maja Naruszewicz of Guelph (OUA).

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Rebecca Haworth, Dalhousie

In her fifth and final year of eligibility, Haworth continues to impress both on and off the field of play. The Waverly, N.S., native is a four-time academic all-Canadian and is currently enrolled in her first year of medicine.

A CIS silver medallist in the high jump last year, she is a three-time AUS field athlete of the year, four-time AUS champion and five-time AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner. When not training or going to school, she somehow manages to find time to represent her fellow students on Dalhousie University's Board of Governors, serve as a councilor with the student union and is a member of the student experience committee. She is a student representative on Dalhousie's academic affairs and research committee and is a member of the Canadian Foundation for Women in Medicine.

A former varsity council co-president, Haworth founded Dalhousie's Special Tigers in 2012 that partners children with intellectual disabilities with Dalhousie's varsity-student athletes and continues to be an active volunteer to this day. She also volunteers with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Operation Christmas Child and is a researcher with Dalhousie's Craniofacial Research Group and the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research. She also coaches Special Olympics track and field and volunteers with Dal's Medical School Health Mentors and Volunteer Patient programs.

"Rebecca continues to astound our coaching staff and fellow student-athletes with her ability to combine athletics, academics and community involvement," said head coach Rich Lehman.  "Even in her first year of medicine, her work with our team and in the community is as impressive as it's ever been."

The other nominees were Caila Kucheravy of McGill (RSEQ), Rachel Jewett of Toronto (OUA) and Regan Yee of Trinity Western (Canada West).

MEN'S AWARDS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (TRACK EVENTS): Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, Laval

A native of Quebec City, Philibert-Thiboutot, who had previously been named CIS track athlete of the year in 2013, was nothing short of spectacular in his fifth and final season with the Rouge et Or.

At the RSEQ conference championships, he won gold in the 600, 1,000 and 1,500-metre events, added silver in the 3,000 and guided the Laval men to the team banner. He is currently ranked first in CIS in the 1000m, second on 3000m and third on 1500m. Over the course of the season, Philibert-Thiboutot set new Quebec provincial records in the 1,000 (2:21.02), 1,500 (3:43.21) and 3,000 (7:53.99), the latter coming on January 31st at the prestigious Boston Terrier Invitational.

"Charles has set new standards for our program," said head coach Félix-Antoine Lapointe. "To shatter the RSEQ records on 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000 metres is exceptional. He is without a doubt one of the best athletes in our club's history, and the best proof of that is he can now dream about competing at the Olympics."  

The other nominees were MacKenzie Munroe of StFX (AUS), Corey Bellemore of Windsor (OUA) and Thomas Riva of Victoria (Canada West).

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (FIELD EVENTS): Eric Brathwaite, York

Brathwaite, a Brampton, Ont., native in his fifth year of eligibility, has asserted himself as the best thrower in the country. He won his second consecutive OUA field events MVP award this season after sweeping the throwing events at the OUA championships for the second straight year.

He won the weight throw with a distance of 19.59 metres, more than a full metre further than the silver medallist. He was even more dominant in the shot put, with his winning distance of 17.56 measuring nearly two metres better than any other throw in the competition.

Brathwaite, who won gold and silver medals at the CIS championships last year, swept the throwing events at four regular-season meets this year and won a total of 11 medals this season. He is ranked No. 1 in CIS in both events ahead of the national championships.

"Eric has become a dominant thrower in CIS during his five years at York, and he has been a key part of our team's success over the past three years," said head coach Colin Inglis. "He is a leader for our program and we are so proud of what he has accomplished, and it will be a big loss for us when he graduates this spring."

The other nominees were Jordan Bruce of Dalhousie (AUS), Marc-Antoine Lafrenaye-Dugas of Sherbrooke (RSEQ) and Peter Millman of Lethbridge (Canada West).

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Angelo Bortolin, Windsor

Bortolin had an outstanding first season with the nationally-ranked Lancers. The Windsor, Ont., native captured a bronze medal in the triple jump at the OUA championships, while placing seventh in the long jump to be the top first-year athlete in both events.

Not having reached the 14.0-metre distance in the triple jump prior to post-secondary competition, Bortolin heads into the national championships ranked third in the country in the event with a personal-best jump of 14.71m, and is currently 11th overall in the long jump.

"Angelo definitely made his rookie season a memorable one," said head coach Dennis Fairall. "Not only is he the top-ranked Lancer in the triple jump but his jump of 14.71 metres ranks him third in CIS. Combine this with a 7.0m long jump and he is the top rookie in two events. He will play a big role if the Lancers hope to win the national team title."

The other nominees were Joshua Lunda of Dalhousie (AUS), Simon Beaulieu of Laval (RSEQ) and Eric Guy of Manitoba (Canada West).

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Alexandre Coholan, Moncton

Coholan, a local product from Moncton, had a solid showing at the AUS championships, finishing fourth in the 600-metre final and seventh in the 300m, while helping the Aigles Bleus 4x400 relay capture a bronze medal.

A fourth-year biochemistry student, Coholan has been an academic all-Canadian and a member of the Dean's List every year since he arrived on the Moncton campus and has received numerous research and academic scholarships. An accomplished musician, he is involved in the community in a number of fields, including music, sports, education and health. 

"Alexandre is an exceptional student. He maintains an academic average of over 4.27 while dedicating countless hours to training and his community service," said coach Steve LeBlanc. "He suffered an ankle injury last spring and came back did season to set personal records at the AUS championships. He is a very determined and dedicated athlete."

The other nominees were Stephen Douglas of McGill (RSEQ), Cam Gilles of Brock (OUA) and Eric Guy of Manitoba (Canada West).

2014-2015 CIS SEASON AWARDS

Women

Athlete of the year (track events): Sasha Gollish, Toronto
Athlete of the year (field events): Brittany Crew, York
Rookie of the year: Claudette Allen, Trinity Western
Student-athlete community service award: Rebecca Haworth, Dalhousie

Men

Athlete of the year (track events): Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, Laval
Athlete of the year (field events): Eric Brathwaite, York
Rookie of the year: Angelo Bortolin, Windsor
Student-athlete community service award: Alexandre Coholan, Moncton

2015 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (selected events webcast daily at www.CIS-SIC.tv)

Thursday, March 12
14:00   Weight Throw (W) Final
15:15   60m Hurdles (W) Pentathlon
15:45   60m Hurdles (M) Pentathlon
16:00   High Jump (W) Pentathlon
16:30   Long Jump (M) Pentathlon
18:00   Shot Put (M) Pentathlon
18:00   60m (W) Heats
18:15   60m (M) Heats
18:30   600m (W) Heats
18:45   600m (M) Heats
19:00   Shot Put (W) Pentathlon
19:00   60m (W) Final
19:10   60m (M) Final
19:20   60m Ambulatory (W) Exhibition Final
19:30   60m Ambulatory (M) Exhibition Final
19:30   High Jump (M) Pentathlon
20:00   Long Jump (W) Pentathlon
20:00   4x200m Relay (W) Heats
20:20   4x200m Relay (M) Heats
21:00   800m (W) Pentathlon
21:15   1000m (M) Pentathlon

Friday, March 13
15:00   Weight Throw (M) Final
16:25   Long Jump (W) Final
16:30   High Jump (M) Final
16:30   60m Hurdles (W) Heats
16:45   60m Hurdles (M) Heats
16:50   Pole Vault (W) Final
17:00   1000m (W) Final
17:10   1000m (M) Final
17:30   60m Hurdles (M) Final
17:40   60m Hurdles (W) Final
17:50   300m (W) Heats
18:05   300m (M) Heats
18:25   Long Jump (M) Final
18:30   3000m (W) Final
18:40   Shot Put (W) Final
18:50   3000m (M) Final
19:50   300m (W) Final
20:00   300m (M) Final
20:15   4x800m Relay (W) Final
20:30   4x800m Relay (M) Final

Saturday, March 14
12:30   Triple Jump (W) Final
12:35   Shot Put (M) Final
13:00   Pole Vault (M) Final
13:15   600m (W) Final
13:30   600m (M) Final
14:15   4x200m Relay (W) Final
14:25   4x200m Relay (M) Final
14:30   High Jump (W) Final
14:35   Triple Jump (M) Final
14:45   1500m (W) Final
15:00   1500m (M) Final
15:45   4x400m Relay (W) Final
16:00   4x400m Relay (M) Final