New Westminster’s Nina Schultz was nominated in the female high school athlete of the year category for the upcoming Sport B.C. awards.
The 15-year-old most outstanding female athlete at the B.C. high school track and field championships last season won the high jump, triple jump and the heptathlon in her first-ever attempt at the two-day multi-event discipline.
Schultz also helped New Westminster Secondary win its first provincial girls’ and overall championship banner with a fourth gold medal in the 4x400-metre relay.
Later in the season, Schultz, competing for the New West Spartans track club, also won the under-18 long and triple jumps at the Canadian Legion youth championships.
Competing with Schultz for the top high school female performer is Maple Ridge wrestler Payton Smith and all-round athlete Christine Howlett from Delta.
Two individuals from Burnaby were also shortlisted in separate categories for Sports B.C. athletes of the year.
Burnaby figure skating coach Joanne McLeod was selected one of three finalists for female coach of the year along with Coquitlam Cheetahs’ track coach Tara Self and volleyball coach Tammy Thomas from Kelowna.
Howard Hum of Burnaby was among the final three nominees for official of the year for the sport of volleyball. Hum is up against basketball referee Steve Seibel and gymnastics judge John Carroll in the category.
These and 10 other sport category winners will be officially named at the 49th annual Sport B.C. athlete of the year awards ceremony and gala dinner set at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on March 12.
“In celebration of 2015 as the Year of Sport, we are excited to kick off the new year with recognizing the extraordinary athletes that represent our province,” said Sport B.C. president and CEO Rob Newman.
