Rising local stars, international standouts and high-performance competitors are among the recipients of Sask Sport Inc.’s 2018 Athlete of the Year Awards.
They include Savannah Sutherland, 15, of Borden, Kurt Oatway, a Paralympic gold medallist from Regina, and Shelby Newkirk, a para swimming world record holder from Saskatoon.
The recipients will be honoured Thursday night at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards in Saskatoon alongside eight other members of the province’s amateur sport community. Recipients for Coach Dedication, Coach of the Year, Official and Volunteer Awards were previously announced in March.
Nominated in the Youth-Female Athlete of the Year category, Savannah Sutherland won three gold medals (300 m, 80 m hurdles and 200 m hurdles), one silver (4 x 100 m relay) and one bronze (1,600 m sprint medley) at the Canadian Legion National Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She set a new Saskatchewan Athletics records for under-16 women’s 80 m and 200 m hurdles.
She won three gold medals (200 m, 80 m hurdles and 200 m hurdles) and one silver (300 m) at the Caltaf Track Classic, which featured participants from seven provinces.
She also won four gold medals (200 m, 80 m hurdles, 200 m hurdles and 4 x 100 m relay) at the Sherwood Park Track Classic, an interprovincial meet between three provinces. At the same event, she won silver and set a new Saskatchewan Athletics record in the under-16 girls’ 300 m.
the other finalists in this category were: Cassie Prentice, 17, Macrorie, racquetball; and Danielle Skinner, 16, Regina, baton twirling.
“Every year, the Saskatchewan Sport Awards celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of coaches, officials, volunteers and athletes and we are incredibly proud of our honorees, including the Athlete of the Year recipients and finalists who have represented Saskatchewan with distinction both at home and abroad,” said Leslie Blyth, chair of Sask Sport’s Board of Directors.
“Their accomplishments go beyond gold medals and first-place finishes. Through hard work and dedication, each serves as inspiration for all future athletes who want to set goals, commit themselves to sport and pursue their dreams.”
Other recipients are:
Youth-Male Athlete of the Year, Daniel McCullough, Saskatoon, kayaking;
Female Athlete of the Year, Shelby Newkirk, Saskatoon, para swimming;
Male Athlete of the Year, Kurt Oatway, Regina, para alpine skiing;
Team of the Year, Team Sask Under-19 Women, Regina, water polo;
Master Athlete of the Year, Ted Rowan, Martensville, Athletics.
