Canadian Masters Athletics has announced the winners of the 2012 Athletes of the Year awards, which are awarded separately for men and women, in the two categories of Running/ Racewalking and Field Events, based on nominations received from members of the CMA and votes cast by the members of the CMA Board.
The winners will receive plaques commemorating their awards, which have again been kindly donated by Bill McIlwaine, a member of the CMA Board. The official presentations will take place at the Awards Banquet, which will be held at the CMA 2013 Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan on Saturday, July 27.
Here are the 2012 Athletes of the Year:
Male – Running/Racewalking:
Marcel Jobin, M70 PQ
Marcel won gold (3000m Indoor Track) and silver (10K Road) in Racewalks at the WMA Indoor Championships in Jyvaskyla, Finland in April, 2012, setting Canadian records in both events and achieving age grading of approximately 89% in each. He also won Canadian and NCCWMA gold medals in both the 5000m and 10000m Track walks in the CMA/NCCWMA Championships in Saint John, NB, setting Canadian records in both events.
Runners-up in this category were: Norm Lesage, M80 BC; Doug Renwick, M70 SK; and Dave Olsen, M55 SK.
Female – Running/Racewalking:
Christa Bortignon, W75 BC
In running events, Christa won 3 gold medals in the WMA Indoor Championships, 3 gold medals in the US Indoor Championships, and 4 gold medals in the CMA/NCCWMA Outdoor Championships. In doing so, she set 6 World records in individual running events and relays.
Runners-up in this category were: Alice Cole, W75 QC; Carol LaFayette-Boyd, W65/W70 SK; and Olga Kotelko, W90 BC.
Female – Field Events:
Christa Bortignon, W75 BC
In Field Events, Christa won gold medals in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and the High Jump, in each of the WMA Indoor Championships, the US Indoor and Outdoor Championships, and the CMA/NCCWMA Championships. In doing so, she set 5 World records and 8 Canadian records, including the Pentathlon, and broke the Triple Jump World record 10 times, 3 times Indoors and 7 times Outdoors.
Runners-up in this category were Margaret Tosh, W65/W70 SK; and Carol LaFayette-Boyd, W65/70 SK.
Male – Field Events:
Garry Bachman (Deceased), M90 ON
Garry, who passed away on December 12, 2012, set Canadian records in the Indoor Shot Put, and Outdoor Canadian records in the Hammer Throw, Shot Put, Discus Throw and the Throws Pentathlon, in some cases several times, with age-graded throws as high as 94%.
Runners-up in this category were Doug Renwick, M70 SK; and John Hawkins, M60 BC.
