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OTTAWA - Athletics Canada is proud to announce that three of its athletes have been named finalists for the 34th Annual Canadian Sport Awards. Brian Barnett of Edmonton and Justyn Warner from Markham, Ont. are finalists for the Junior Male Athlete of the Year while Jason Dunkerley from Hamilton, Ont. is a finalist for the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award.
The Junior Male Athlete of the Year is presented to Canada's outstanding junior male athlete of the year. The Spirit of Sport Story of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates a Canadian hero who, in the pursuit of sporting excellence, has demonstrated values such as dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.
Brian Barnett raced onto the scene this year with remarkable performances in the 200-metres, flirting with the Canadian record as a junior aged athlete. Barnett broke the 300-metres Canadian Indoor Junior Record, won gold at both the Senior and Junior Canadian Championships and capped off the season with a silver medal performance at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China. Brian is coached by Quin Sekulich of the Capital City Track Club.
Justyn Warner, the Canadian Junior 100-metres record holder, put together a great season registering podium finishes in the 100-metres at the collegiate level, national level and on the international stage. Warner won a number of races competing in the NCAA for Texas Christian University and took first place at the Canadian Junior Championships in Sherbrooke, Que. Warner represented Canada at the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships and came home with a silver medal, finishing only two-tenths of a second behind the winner. Justyn is a member of the Etobicoke Gladstone Athletics Club and is coached by Anthony D'Oliveira and Clifford Linton.
Jason Dunkerley has been competing internationally for Canada for seven years. He specializes in the 800 and 1500-metres in the T11 classification (blind athletes). While running along the Rideau Canal in rainy conditions in November 2005, Dunkerley and fellow National Team member Stuart McGregor were struck by an SUV sending them both to hospital. Jason suffered a skull fracture, a hairline fracture to his right fibula and numerous cuts and bruises. Amazingly Jason made a comeback in 2006 and qualified and competed at the 2006 IPC World Championships held in Assen, Netherlands. His inspiring story didn't end there as he captured the gold medal in both the 800 and 1500-metre races. Jason trains in Ottawa and is coached by Ray Elrick.
The 34th Canadian Sport Awards will be handed out at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg on March 23rd. The awards are a premier event honouring outstanding achievements of Canada's best amateur athletes and leaders.
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running, road running and road racing. Its purpose is the pursuit of leadership, development and competition that ensures world-level performance in athletics.
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