Jakob Brinkhof and Niki Oudenaarden of St. Albert are among the finalists for Athletics Alberta athlete of the year awards.
Brinkhof, a midget male nominee, won the javelin provincial and western Canadian titles and finished third at nationals in his first year of competition.
The St. Albert Mustangs Track and Field Club athlete finished the 2013 outdoor season ranked No. 1 in the province in javelin at 46.70 metres, was second in discus at 39.95m and the hammer throw at 31.94m and fourth in shot put at 12.03m.
Brinkhof is also the indoor provincial champion in weight throw at 13.16m and is currently ranked first in the province in indoor shot put at 13.75m as the Edmonton Last Chance Meet winner Nov. 30.
Oudenaarden, a junior female nominee, was named to the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Team in pentathlon and was an Honorable Mention Outdoor USTFCCCA All-American in the heptathlon in her first season with San Diego State Aztecs.
The Mountain West Spring All-Academic Team selection also broke the Canadian women’s junior heptathlon record with a 5,774 point total and established a new Canadian women’s pentathlon junior indoor mark at 3,969 that is also No. 2 all-time at San Diego State and the most by an Aztec freshman.
Oudenaarden also placed 23rd in the heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 4,971.
The winners will be announced Feb. 8 at the Athletics Alberta annual awards banquet.
Meanwhile, Emma Murchison of the Mustangs won a bantam female track and field award by finishing top 10 for all-around points scored during the 2013 outdoor season.
Murchison competed in the 80m, 150m, 800m, 80m hurdles, 4x100 relay, high jump, discus and shot put.
