TWO West Vancouverites hauled in hardware at Sport B.C.'s 46th annual Athlete of the Year Awards held earlier this month at Richmond's River Rock Show Theatre.
Simon Fraser University runner Helen Crofts was named the university athlete of the year after putting together a stellar campaign in cross-country running and track and field with the Clan, culminating with a gold-medal win in the 800-metre race at the Canadian Track and Field Championships and a run to the finals at the 2011 Summer Universiade held in Shenzhen, China.
West Van native Mike Janyk earned the Community Champion award for his athletic and philanthropic achievements. A two-time Olympian and three-time national champion slalom skier, Janyk helped found Mike and Manny's Ski Camp along with North Vancouver's Manuel Osborne-Paradis. Janyk is also involved with KidSport BC and helped raise more than $500,000 for that organization through the annual Ritchie Bros. Corporate Kids Challenge. Previous winners of the Community Champion award include Trevor Linden, Steve Nash and Emily Brydon.
Several other North Shore sports volunteers were awarded with Sport B.C. Presidents' Awards in a ceremony that preceded the Athlete of the Year Awards. The Presidents' Awards give provincial sports organizations an opportunity to showcase individuals who make a significant, and often unheralded, contribution to their sport. The North Shore recipients were:
- Dan Miscisco, North Vancouver, Basketball B.C.
- Jill Komlos, West Vancouver, B.C. Diving
- Richard Lyle, West Vancouver, British Columbia Golf
- David Sutcliffe, North Vancouver, B.C. Sailing Association
- Diana Chan, North Vancouver, ProMotion Plus
- Paul Marley, North Vancouver, Squash B.C.
