T&F: Major Award Winners honoured after CW Championships
CALGARY - After an exciting two-day championship event that saw the defending champions successfully re-claim their crowns, the season's and meet's top performers are also taking home some major hardware.
The women's and men's champions, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, each see five members earn CW major awards. Lethbridge, Regina, Trinity Western and Alberta also boast selections for the prestigious titles.
Each event winner is also considered a CW first-team all-star, while each silver medalist is a second-team all-star. The complete final results can be found here.
Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Kendra Farmer, Saskatchewan Huskies
Kendra Farmer has been named the 2022-23 Women's Track Athlete of the Year after a brilliant season that was punctuated by four CW Championship gold medals. The fifth-year runner won the 300-metre and 600-metre races.
She ran anchor for the Huskies' 4x400-metre team that took home gold, while picking up yet another gold in the 4x200-metre relay.
Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Tristan Allen, Manitoba Bisons
Tristan Allen has been named the 2022-23 Men's Track Athlete of the Year. A menace on the track all season, Allen capped it off with a top-of-the-podium finish in the 600-metre championship race.
He grabbed two more medals in the team events, anchoring the 4x800-metre and 4x400-metre relays for his Bisons.
Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Daxx Turner, Manitoba Bisons
Daxx Turner has been named the 2022-23 Men's Field Athlete of the Year. His jumping prowess demanded respect all season. He then took home a silver in high jump and a gold in triple jump at the CW Championships.
Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Madisson Lawrence, Manitoba Bisons
Madisson Lawrence has been named the 2022-23 Women's Field Athlete of the Year. Dangerous all over the track, Lawrence captured gold in the pentathlon at the CW Championships, proving her prowess across events.
If competing in seven events isn't enough, Lawrence also grabbed gold in the long jump pit, surpassing those who specialize in the event.
Women's Outstanding Performance of the Meet: Jinaye Shomachuk, Lethbridge Pronghorns
Jinaye Shomachuk has earned the 2022-23 Outstanding Performance of the Meet award. The Lethbridge Pronghorn finished fifth in shot put before taking home gold in the weight throw. Shomachuk tossed it a full 2.82 metres farther than anyone else in the field.
Men's Outstanding Performance of the Meet: Usheoritse Itsekiri, Regina Cougars
Usheoritse Itsekiri has earned the 2022-23 Outstanding Performance of the Meet award. The fastest man in the field this weekend, Itsekiri raced to first in the 60-metre event, missing out on the CW record by a slim 0.06 seconds.
He also led his Regina Cougars to gold, as the first runner in the team's 4x200-metre relay.
Men's Rookie of the Year: Tegra Jan-King, Alberta Golden Bears
Tegra Jan-King has been named the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year after making a splash in his first CW season. The first-year is showing himself as a serious threat in the jumping events, taking home the CW Championship gold medal in the high jump.
Women's Rookie of the Year: Lauryn Morris, Lethbridge Pronghorns
Lauryn Morris has been named the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year. The Lethbridge Pronghorn has shown up big in her first CW season, a serious threat in the throwing events. She's been showing up consistently on the leaderboards across the west, capping her CW season off with a fourth-place finish in shot put at the Championships this past weekend.
Women's Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Kendra Farmer, Saskatchewan Huskies
In addition to her CW Track Athlete of the Year award, Kendra Farmer has also earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Award, showing she shines far outside the confines of the fieldhouse. The four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian completed her chemical engineering degree with great distinction.
She also makes a huge impact on her community, volunteering her time with youth track and field on many levels. She's been an invaluable support to and advocate for Indigenous athletes.
Men's Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Jake Neufeld, Saskatchewan Huskies
Jake Neufeld has earned the Student-Athlete Community Service Award thanks to his excellent work on the track, in the classroom and in his community. Neufeld auto-qualified for nationals in the heptathalon in his first event this season. He's posting an outstanding 94 per cent average in kinesiology.
Neufeld also spends many hours coaching youth track and field, while creating a positive environment for youth with disabilities and providing respite care to an individual with cognitive challenges.
Women's Coach of the Year: Jason Reindl, University of Saskatchewan
Jason Reindl has been named the 2022-23 Women's Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to their fifth-straight CW Championship title. The team amassed 171 points on the weekend, 29 more than their closest competitor.
Men's Coach of the Year: Claude Berube, University of Manitoba
Claude Berube has been named the 2022-23 Men's Coach of the Year after pushing the Bisons to repeat as CW champions. The team captured 148.5 points this past weekend, 20 more than the second-place Golden Bears.
Female Assistant Coach of the Year: Sabrina Nettey, Trinity Western University
Male Assistant Coach of the Year: Mingpu Wu, University of Manitoba