THUNDER BAY – After sprinting their way to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships last fall, Confederation College Thunderhawks cross country runners Jamie Kovacic and Tony Elikana have earned another major accolade.
Kovacic and Elikana were named the female and male athletes of the year during the athletic program's year-end banquet on Tuesday night.
"It was really a surprise when I found out I won," Elikana said. "It was so amazing to me."
"To have Tony receive the award along with me really shows the commitment of the cross country team here at the college," Kovacic added.
"The hard work that we all put in pays off."
Kovacic, who is from Thunder Bay, has won the Thunderhawks female athlete of the year for three straight years.
She finished in second place at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association championships in Cambridge in November and followed that up with the 18th place finish at the nationals in Truro, N.S.
Kovacic also earned the Thunderhawks' cross country running team's most valuable player award and was named to the OCAA women's cross country running first all star squad.
"Our whole squad is really diverse and has different experiences," Kovacic said. "The support that we give each other is really special."
Elikana, who is from Sudan, made a strong first impression in his rookie season.
After taking part in his first competitive race of any kind last May, he qualified for the nationals with a 13th-place showing at the provincials.
"When Coach Alain (Gosselin) invited me to join the team, I was so happy," Elikana said. "I love to run and I quickly said yes.
"Since I started training with him, I really improved a lot, as did our whole team."
Elikana also made the OCAA's men's cross country second All-Ontario team and earned an all-academic award for achieving honour roll status in the fall semester.
While he's slated to return to the team next season, Kovacic will be moving into a coaching role for the Thunderhawks as she is set to graduate from the practical nursing program.
"I think it'll put running into a different aspect for me and it's going to give me a real appreacition for what the coaches do as I move to that side of he sport," Kovacic said.
Tuesday's banquet also saw men's indoor soccer team captain Yug Dangol receive the D.A.R. Bradshaw Athletic Achievement Award, which goes to a graduating student who demonstrates the most improvement in and contribution to athletics, and whose quality of spirit and competitive drive contributed to the overall success of the college’s athletic programs, on Tuesday night.
Griffen Wiersema (men's golf), Rosa Galle (women's indoor soccer), Prem Bikram Khadka (men's indoor soccer) and Brayden Sinclair (mixed curling) were named as MVPs for their respective sports. Wiersema and cross country runner Quinn Dodds also received OCAA all-academic awards.
