Canadian throwing champion Peter Millman won his second consecutive Male Athlete of the Year award as Pronghorn Athletics hosted its annual Blue and Gold Banquet recently to honor outstanding athletes in athletic performance and academic achievement.

Over 300 athletes, administrators and special guests were in attendance for the social and awards ceremony at the Lethbridge Lodge, where Millman and fellow track star Sandra Latrace earned the top honours.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Peter Millman defended his CIS shot put title and won a second straight athlete of the year.

Fourth-year thrower Peter Millman laid claim to the Pronghorn male athlete of the year award for the second year in a row. Millman followed up a stellar 2014-15 campaign with an even better one this season.

The Truro, Nova Scotia product picked up his third consecutive Canada West Athlete of the Year award for field events after sweeping the conference throwing events. Millman led the Horns to a second consecutive sweep of the podium in the shot put and won the event by nearly 1.5 metres. In the weight throw, Millman’s nearest competitor was more than two metres behind his best throw.

At the CIS Championships, Millman was the first Pronghorn since Jim Steacy to lay claim to the CIS Athlete of the Year for field events and went on to defend his CIS title in the shot put. Millman had the four furthest throws of the competition and earned his second consecutive gold medal with a top throw of 17.20 metres. Millman also finished fourth in the weigh throw.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Rookie Sandra Latrace was the best long jumper in the country.

First-year jumper Sandra Latrace burst on to the university track scene and has been nothing short of spectacular in her first season.

At her first Canada West Championships, Latrace showed she had a flare for the dramatic and on her final attempt in the long jump she moved into the gold medal position with a jump of 6.10 metres, winning the event by only two centimetres. She followed that up with a silver medal in the triple jump, an event she had only picked up earlier this year.

On the strength of her performance at the conference meet, Latrace was named the Canada West Athlete of the Year for field events and the Canada West Rookie of the Year.

At the CIS Championships, Latrace was also named the CIS Rookie of the Year. She went on to claim her first CIS gold medal in the long jump and then authored a huge personal best jump to take home a silver medal in the triple jump.

Other major award winners from the Blue and Gold Banquet included:

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

For the second year in a row, Alycia Amatto of the women’s soccer team took home the prestigious President’s Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest academic standing at the University of Lethbridge. Amatto achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in pursuit of her Bachelor of Science, while balancing her large commitment to her team.

TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD

For the first time in the award's history, there was a tie for the Team Academic Award. With a combined GPA of 3.15, the women’s basketball team and men’s track and field team emerged as co-winners of the honour.

ALUMNI LEADERSHIP AWARD

This year’s Alumni Leadership Award recipient is fifth-year Science student Jared Baker, who has been described by Hrns men's basketball coach Mike Hansen as an exceptional leader and a "glue guy". He does all of the little things and brings so much energy and passion to the game. As a three-year starter and team captain, he has sacrificed his personal achievements for the betterment of the team.

A true student-athlete, Baker has a cumulative 3.7 GPA through his three years at the University of Lethbridge.

In the community, his involvement goes well beyond team initiatives. He lives to serve others and that is a big reason why he is pursuing medical school following the completion of his degree and basketball career. He exemplifies what it means to be a great teammate and a student-athlete in the CIS.

When teammate Brent Watkins was involved in a serious car accident, Baker took it upon himself to start fundraising to aid Brent's family's medical costs. In less than a week, Baker had helped raise over $33,000. In total, over $50,000 was raised for Watkins and his family through Baker's help.

Baker also volunteers at Our Lady of Assumption elementary school, reading with kids and promoting literacy. Baker and his wife volunteer in the recreational therapy program with the long-term care facility at the Raymond hospital and organize activities for youth at their church each week.

Baker was the Canada West nominee for the CIS Ken Shields award for student-athlete community service.

Team Most Valuable Players

Men’s Soccer – Chris Rushworth
Women’s Soccer – Kim Shellenberg and Micaela Stone
Men’s Hockey – Mitch Maxwell
Women’s Hockey – Kirsten Reeves
Men’s Basketball – Brandon Brine
Women’s Basketball – Mariah Miller
Women’s Rugby – Frederique Tremblay
Men’s Track – Peter Millman and Ryan Sommer
Women’s Track – Sandra Latrace
Men’s Swim – Scott Hunter
Women’s Swim – Ardelle Layden