A year of personal bests, national competition and dreams of an Olympic future set a Peninsula athlete up for best in the province.

SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Courtenay Neville-Rutherford was named the B.C. Athletics AssociationB次元官网网址檚 top female athlete in her age group.

She learned first that she was a contender in the category.

B次元官网网址淎 week later I got a letter saying I was a recipient,B次元官网网址� she said.

The Parkland student attributes the award to her success in the hammer throw, including a gold medal at provincials and a spot on the B.C. track and field team for the Legion Canadian Youth Championships in Ottawa.

She works with Pacific Athletics under coach Sheldon Gmitroski in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淎thlete of the year is a big deal to me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏.C. Athletics is the whole province and IB次元官网网址檓 only a midget.B次元官网网址�

Neville-Rutherford turns 16 on Jan. 7 and will move up an age category to junior when the season starts in March.

The award, she figures, will push her harder in training.

B次元官网网址淚 want to try and get to Legions again this year.B次元官网网址�

sports@peninsulanewsreview.com