Posted: December 20, 2005

Athletics Canada Announces 2005 Award Winners

(OTTAWA) - Athletics Canada announced today its 2005 award winners. Tyler Christopher of Edmonton is the recipient of the Jack W. Davies trophy as the outstanding overall athlete as well as the Phil A. Edwards Memorial trophy as the top athlete in track events. Christopher took home the bronze medal in the 400 metres at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Mark Boswell from Toronto is the winner of the Cal D. Bricker Memorial trophy as Athletics Canada's top athlete in jump events (long jump, triple jump and high jump) and the winner of the F.N.A Rowell award as the top athlete in field events (jumping, vaulting or throwing). Boswell finished in second place at the Canadian Championships and in fourth place at the World Championships. Boswell previously won these awards in both 2002 and 2003.

Jason Tunks of London, ON has been named the recipient of the Eric E. Coy trophy as the top athlete in throwing events (shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw) for the fourth straight year. Tunks won the gold in the discus throw at the Canadian Championships and finished eighth at the World Championships. Tunks also won this award in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Alan Bergman from Cobble Hill, BC has been awarded the Fred Begley trophy as the top marathon or off-track race walking athlete. Bergman won the marathon gold medal in the open wheelchair division at the European Open Paralympic Championships. Bergman also had success in other world class marathons, finishing first at the Las Vegas Marathon, second at the Vancouver Marathon, third at the Columbus Marathon, fourth at the Boston Marathon and fifth at the Los Angeles Marathon.

Jessica Zelinka of Calgary is the recipient of the Fred Tees trophy as the top Canadian Track and Field athlete enrolled in a Canadian University. Zelinka won gold at the Canadian Championships in the Heptathlon and finished eleventh at the World Championships. Zelinka is now a two-time winner of this award.

Mike Woods of Ottawa is the recipient of Athletics Canada's Junior Athlete of the Year trophy (19 and under). Woods won two gold medals at the Canadian Junior Championships, finishing first in both the 1500 and 5000 metre races. Woods also won gold in the 1500 at the Pan Am Junior Championships, and set new Canadian junior records in the mile and 3000 metres.

Elizabeth Gleadle of Burnaby, BC and Justin Marpole-Bird from Vancouver are recipients of the Myrtle Cook trophy as the top youth (17 and under) athletes. Gleadle took the gold in the javelin at the Royal Canadian Legion National Track and Field Championships and finished fifth at the World Youth Championships in Marrakech, Morocco. Marpole-Bird won gold in the 1500 metres at the Royal Canadians and finished eighth at the World Youths.

The award winners will be honoured at a ceremony coinciding with Athletics Canada's Annual General Meeting in May 2006.

For more information on these awards and what they represent, please visit Athletics Canada's official website: Athletics.ca.

As the national sport governing body for track and field, cross country running and road running, Athletics Canada's mission is to provide leadership, development and competition that ensures world-level performance in athletics. Athletics Canada is a not- for-profit, charitable organization operating under a board of directors elected by provincial / territorial members.