Canadian Masters Athletics
Announces 2024 Athletes of the Year
Canadian Masters Athletics (CMA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 Athletes of the Year awards.
Based on nominations received and votes cast by the CMA Board, the 2024 Athletes of the Year have been named in four categories of athletics, each of which has been named after a master’s athlete who was prominent in the appropriate discipline and is either still active or was active in the past, as identified below.
The following are the recipients of the 2024 CMA Athletes of the Year Awards:
Individual Track Events, “Earl Fee Award” – Karla Del Grande, W70, ON
This award is named in honour of Earl Feethe great masters middle distance track athlete who, at age 96, is still active and is still setting many new Canadian and World records and continues to inspire others.
Karla del Grandefrom Scarborough, Ontario is once again the recipient of the 2024 Earl Fee Award in recognition of another excellent year of performances in Individual Track Events. This past year Karla set World Records in the 100m and 200m events. In addition at the WMA Championships in Sweden she tied her world record in the 100m as well as winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 200m hurdles. Also, in recognition of her achievements over the years both on and off the track, Karla was inducted into the WMA Gallery of Champions. Additionally, Karla was awarded CMA Athlete of the month in June as well as an honourable mention in July and August in 2024.
Individual Field Events, “Olga Kotelko Award” – Mélanie Guy, W45, QC
This award is named in honour of the late Olga Kotelkowho set more age group World records than any other athlete, in all age groups from 80 to 95 years of age, and has been an inspiration to many people worldwide, and a great ambassador for masters track and field.
Mélanie Guyfrom Beloeil, Quebec is the recipient of the 2024 Olga Kotelko Award for an outstanding year of performances in Individual Field Events. Throughout 2024 Mélanie set Canadian records in the Indoor and Outdoor Weight Throw, Javelin, Discus and twice the Hammer Throw. In Sweden at the WMA Championships, she won bronze in the hammer throw and of note despite being another category (Combined Events) she won gold in the Throws Pentathlon.
Combined Events, “Ian Hume Award” – Ward Hazen, M70, ON
This award is named in honour of the late Ian Hume who, beginning with the first World Masters Championships in Toronto in 1975 and for a period of 25 years, won 29 World Championship medals and set 40 World records in 9 events, including the Pentathlon and the Decathlon.
Ward Hazen from Stratford, Ontario is the recipient of the 2024 Ian Hume Award for his outstanding performance at the WMA Championships in Sweden with a Gold performance in the Decathlon. Additionally, Ward was awarded the CMA Athlete of the Month in August. Although in another category Ward also set a Canadian Record in the indoor 50m in January of 2024.
Non-Stadia Events, “Ed Whitlock Award” – Dmitry Babenko, M50, BC
This award is named in honour of the late Ed Whitlockthe road racing legend who, at age 69, became the oldest man to run a marathon in under 3 hours, and today still holds dozens of Canadian road records, as well as World records in the marathon for M70, M75, M80 and M85.
Dmitry Babenko from Burnaby, British Columbia is the recipient of the 2024 Ed Whitlock Award for his outstanding performances in Non-Stadia Events throughout the year. Dmitry had several strong performances throughout the year culminating in setting 4 Canadian Records in Racewalk at the following distances: 15k, 20K, 30k, 35k. These performances included a gold in the 20k and a bronze in the 10k Racewalk at the WMA Championships. Additionally, Dmitry was awarded the CMA Athlete of the Month in April as well as an Honourable Mention in May, June, July, August and October of 2024. Also of note is that in the Individual Track Events category he also set 5 additional Canadian Racewalk Records which included a gold in the 5000m racewalk at the WMA Championships.
Presentation of awards
Awards will be formally presented at the 50th annual CMA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Laval, Quebec during the CMA Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday August 2, 2025.
CMA would like to thank this year’s hosts, the Club d’Athlétisme Laval and Athlétisme Québec.
