HELEN Crofts' fantastic 2011 was topped off late last month by the announcement that she will receive Athletics Canada's Frank Tees Memorial Trophy as the outstanding athlete enrolled in a Canadian university.
The West Vancouver native competed in track and field and cross country for Simon Fraser University, running away with several impressive results.
She set a new record in the 800 metres at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics outdoor championships and was named the meet's outstanding performer. Crofts also earned outstanding performer honours at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference outdoor and indoor championships, winning the 400-m and 1,500m races outdoors as well as the 400-m race in a record time indoors. Crofts was also part of several medal-winning and record-setting SFU relay teams.
Crofts kept on running after the university season was over, winning the 800-m race at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in June before making the 800-m final and finishing sixth at the 2011 Summer Universiade held in August in Shenzhen, China.
