Carolyn Murray wins 2008 Triathlon Canada Overall Female Athlete of the Year
Triathlon Canada
News Release April 8, 2009
Montgomery inducted into the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame; Whitfield and Murray win 2008 Triathlon Canada Overall Athlete’s of the Year
Hall of Fame
Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame became one member larger as Carol Montgomery became the sixth athlete inducted into the Hall.
Montgomery, born in Sechett, BC, is one of Canada’s most decorated triathletes. Her career accomplishments on the ITU circuit include being a 3-time medalist at the ITU Triathlon World Championships (Silver - 1990, Bronze - 1996, Silver - 2000); 15 World Cup victories; 25 World Cup podium finishes; 1993 Duathlon World Championships gold medalist; 1999 Pan American Games bronze medalist, 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist; and competing in the inaugural ITU World Championships in 1989.
Montgomery represented Canada at the Olympics twice in triathlon in 2000 and 2004. She also qualified for the 10 000m in 2000, making her the first Canadian two-sport athlete at the same Olympic Games. Montgomery joins Joanne Ritchie, Terri Smith-Ross, Silviane and Patricia Puntous and Mark Bates as the latest athlete inductee in Triathlon Canada’s Hall of Fame.
2008 Award Winners
For the tenth straight year, Simon Whitfield has been named Triathlon Canada Athlete of the Year, while Carolyn Murray picked up the honour for the first time, Triathlon Canada announced today.
Whitfield, of Victoria, capped off an impressive 2008 with an exciting silver medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The silver was Whitfield’s second Olympic medal, winning it eight years after picking up the gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also placed sixth at the Vancouver World Championships, 5th at the Hyvee World Cup, and took home the gold medal in his first race of the season at the Ishigaki World Cup. Whitfield also picked up the award for Olympic Distance Elite Male.
Edmonton’s Murray, who also won the award for Olympic Distance Elite Female, had a strong 2008 race season, which was highlighted by a gold medal at the Richards Bay World Cup in May. She also represented Canada at the Vancouver World Championships and was the top-placing Canadian female at the Beijing Olympics, where she finished in 29th. Murray announced her retirement from elite competition following the season.
Other 2008 Olympic Distance award winners include Calgary’s Jordan Bryden and Kerry Spearing of Victoria, who won in the Under-23 category; Francois Hogan of Bedford, Que., and Paula Findlay of Edmonton who took home the honours in the Junior category; Belleville, Ont.’s Kevin Beatty and Kristina Schultz of Sherwood Park, Alta., who topped the Age Group 18-39 category; and Calvin Zaryski of Calgary and Stephanie Kieffer of Vancouver who won the Age Group 40-59 category.
In Long Distance – Triathlon, Mike Neill and Sara Gross, both of Victoria, were victorious in the Male and Female Elite categories; Ben Cotter of Victoria and Catherine Brown of Calgary took home top honours in the Age Group 18-39 categories; while Roman Dujmovic of Burnaby, B.C., and Kelowna, B.C.’s, Lauralee Welder won the Age Group 40-59 category.
2008 Duathlon award winners include Matthew Pieterson of Ottawa, and Calgary’s Nicole Vogler in the elite category; Mathieu Despatie of Cornwall, Ont., and Lindsay Anderson of Ottawa in the junior category; Frederic Chenard of Verdun Que., and Laura Gazzola of Brampton, Ont., in the Age Group 18-39 category; and Allan McCallister and Margaret Ritchie both of Edmonton in the Age Group 40-59 category.
In Off-Road – Triathlon, Team Teck member Brent McMahon of Victoria and Danelle Kabush of Calgary picked up the Elite honours; Madelene Earp of Vancouver won the Age Group 18-39 female award; and Calvin Zaryski and Beverly Watson, both of Calgary, were victorious in the Age Group 40-59 category.
Regina’s Milos Kostic and Louise McGonigal of Elmvale, Ont., claimed the top prize in the Grand Master 60+ category. This was the third straight year both Kostic and McGonigal have won an award. In the AWAD division, Chris Bourne of Manotick, Ont., and Kim Wedgerfield of Calgary took home the award. The award was Wedgerfield’s third straight.
In other awards, Victoria’s Pat Kelly was name Coach of the Year in the Elite category, while Calvin Zaryski took home the honours in the Age Group / Junior category, marking the third award Zaryski won in 2008. The Significant Contributor / Volunteer of the Year went to Trevor Soll of Edmonton who has volunteered endless hours supporting Triathlon Canada’s National Age Group Teams for the past 12 years.
The Triathlon Canada Awards Program recognizes and celebrates the individual achievement of athletes and the contribution of individuals to the sport across the country. The 2008 Awards will be presented in Kelowna, B.C. as part of the festivities surrounding the 2009 Triathlon National Championships on August 22-23.
