Athletics Ontario is pleased to announce the 2014 Inductees in to the AO Hall of Fame. The ceremony is to take place at the Toronto Don Valley Hotel & Suites on Saturday September 27, in conjunction with the Athlete of the Year Awards Banquet, “Celebrating Excellence in Athletics”.
Highlighting the event will be Sultana Frizell, as the evening’s Guest Speaker. Sultana is coming off a spectacular performance in Glasgow as the Commonwealth Games Gold medalist and record holder in the Hammer Throw. Sultana, a member of the Ottawa Lions TFC, was also presented with the honour of being selected as the flag-bearer for the Canadian Team at the closing ceremonies. Earlier in the year, she surpassed her Canadian record in the event with a throw of 75.73. Emceeing this annual event for the third straight year is Kate Van Buskirk. Kate, a member of Athletics Toronto, won the Commonwealth Games Bronze medal in the 1500m.
The banquet, in addition to the presentation of awards to Hall of Fame Inductees, will also include the presentations of Athlete of the Year Awards for athletes in most age-groups and event groups. Details on the banquet, including ticket information and the on-line athlete nomination form (nominations close September 2), can be found at: http://athleticsontario.ca/celebrating-excellence-in-athletics/
The following athletes and builders will be inducted into the Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame on September 27:
Athletes:
Angela Bailey
Angela was selected in 1980 to attend her first Olympic Games, but was unable to attend due to the boycott of the games. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Angela, along with fellow inductee, Marita Payne-Wiggins, won a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m relay. She also attended the Olympic Games in 1988. In addition to her Olympic medal, she has three silver medals from the 1978, 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in the 4×100 metre relay. In 1987, at the World Indoor Championships, she was able to capture a Bronze in the 60 metre, and later that year, Angela set the Canadian record in the 100m with a time of 10.98 seconds. That record still holds today. Additionally, she holds the Canadian indoor record for the women’s 200m.
Marita Payne-Wiggins
Marita attended her first Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles, and alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Angela Bailey, she won a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m relay. Marita also won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay. In addition to her Olympic medals, she won silver at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in the 4x100m and gold at the 1986 Games in the 4x400m. Marita also won two silver medals, at the 1983 and 1987 Pan American Games in the 4x400m relay. She additionally competed in the 1988 Olympics. Angela is the co-holder of the Canadian 400m record at 49.91 seconds and individually she holds the Canadian record for the 200m at 22.62 seconds.
Mark McKoy
Mark won a Gold medal for Canada in the 110m hurdles at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and won the bronze medal in the 60m hurdles at the 1991 World Indoor Championships, and a gold at the 1993 World Indoor Championships. Additionally, Mark won the gold medal 1982 Commonwealth Games in the 110m hurdles and Silver as a member of the 4x100m relay. At the 1986 Commonwealth Games he repeated as Gold medalist in the hurdles and earned gold in the 4x100m relay. Mark attended his first Olympics in 1988, and placed 7th in the hurdles.
Ann Peel
Ann was a dominant force in Canadian women’s race walking during the 1980’s. During that time she won seven 5000m walk national championships (1980,81,82,83,84,86 and 87) and four 10km walk championships (83,84,86,88). Her times earned her spots on Team Canada for a number of international events including the World Cup (7th in 1985, 8th in 1981 and 10th in 1983); the 1984 and 1988 Pan American Cup of Walking (gold medals in 1984 and 1988); the 1987 FISU Games (bronze); and the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where she won a silver medal in the 10,000m track event. Ann also excelled at the shorter indoor distances, winning won the bronze medal in the 3000m at the 1985 and 1987 World Indoor Championships. She held the Canadian Indoor 3000m walk record that she set in 1989 until this year. Ann was instrumental in lobbying to have the women’s event included at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, and at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Silvia Ruegger
Sylvia competed in the first ever women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984 in Los Angeles and placed 8th with a time of 2:29:09. In 1985 at the Houston Marathon, Sylvia posted a time of 2:28:36 which stood as the Canadian record until 2013, a record lasting nearly 30 years. Sylvia also finished first at the 1984 National Capital Marathon and at the 1987 Pittsburgh marathon.
Jane Haist
Jane won gold medals at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in discus and shot put and won a bronze medal in the discus at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City. She also competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Jane competed at the University of Tennessee from 1977-79 and was an All-American in 1977 and ’78, winning the AIAW National Championship in the discus. In her first year there, she tossed a collegiate record of 198-8 (60.55m) in the discus, a record that still stands at the University of Tennessee.
Yvonne Saunders
Yvonne competed at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, representing Jamaica in the 400m and 4x400m relay. At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, now representing Canada, she participated in the 800m and and in the 4x400m relay, where the team placed 8th. She was also selected for participation on the boycotted 1980 Olympics. At the Pan Am Games in Colombia in 1971, she won a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay as part of the Jamaican team. At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, now representing Canada, Yvonne won the gold medal in the 400m and a bronze in the 4x400m relay.
Builders:
Rolf Lund
Rolf began coaching Track & Field at Queen’s University in 1963. Rolf coached grass roots, nationally and internationally for over 25 years and won numerous provincial and national team titles with Queen’s University. Rolf served as President of Ontario Track & Field Association for 13 years and was the first Chairman of Sport Alliance of Ontario.
Enrico Toscano
Enrico has been an OTFA/Athletics Ontario member since 1967 and has helped organize Ontario Officials Committee and represented them at the National Officials Committee. Enrico has served as an official for over 45 years and is a National mentor and clinician, and has been appointed to work regional, national and international meets. Enrico has participated in track and field committees, including the National Officials Committee from 1975-2012, Ontario Technical Committee, 1986-present, Athletics Ontario Board of Directors from 1986-1997, Athletics Ontario and By-Law Committee since 1996.
Bill Heikkila
Bill has over 45 years of coaching in Ontario, and is a javelin coach with the Ottawa Lions TFC. Bill has served as a coach at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1983 IAAF World Championships, 1986 Pan Am Junior Championships, 1987 Pan Am Games, 1990 Commonwealth Games, 1993 World University Championships and 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie. As an athlete, Bill was a Javelin thrower at the 1968 Olympics, 1967 Pan Am Games, and the 1970 Commonwealth Games.