Short List for the Melvyn Potter Club Athlete of the Year Award 2017
Below are the justifications submitted for the shortlisted nominees of this years inaugural awards.
Caitlin Wosika (winner)
Nominators Justification:
Coming from the cross country and endurance groups Caitlin appears to have been around for a long time despite her tender years. She is a regular competitor for Team Bath and Wiltshire (now Avon) on both T&F and cross country circuits. She has been a consistent high performer without necessarily grabbing the headlines of some of her peers. An example of this is that she finished 12th at ESAA Steeplechase this year, but had led the race until she fell on the final lap – but showing great determination she got up and finished. She had run national standard times every time she competed prior to this and was a genuine contender for a medal. She has always shown massive dedication at training and is approachable and friendly to all the other athletes. She is ranked 1 in the SW and 5 in the UK. She is also a national standard Triathlete of some note.
Jonny Evans (runner up)
Nominators Justification :
Jonny has made huge improvements not just in one event but in 8. Moving up to Octathlon with his main event being throws, he has had to work incredibly hard on speed. The irony being that as an experienced thrower he lost his place at the National Championships with 3 no throws in the discus. As well as the massive improvements in all 8 events for multi-events, Jonny has been very successful in the 100m as his track event. In 2016 his PB was 13.5 this year he ran 12.00 that’s a massive achievement in sprints.
My main reason for nominating Jonny is that he has been a huge help with the younger up and coming multi eventers. He mentors Fraser Middleton and has coached shot with a lot of success. The younger athletes think he is an amazing shot coach {sorry coaches} and has been a huge support for his coach in the complicated juggling act that multi events presents.
His amazing performances throughout the season in 9 events, as I have to include the 100, took a lot of blood sweat and tears. We went through some weeks when absolutely every event seemed to fall apart and Jonny felt like giving up. However through this he still coached and supported the younger athletes with great coaching skills and empathy.
Ransford Ako’Nai (runner up)
Nominators Justification :
A very happy, friendly athlete who works hard within the group and never complains. He sometimes finds it difficult to attend all of the training, but when he does he gives 100% and shows the rest of the group how it should be done. Comments from his peer group are that ‘we love Ransford’ and although he can appear to be quiet you will often see him speaking to all members of the group and telling them that they can do it when they find it tough. His own performances in Long Jump speak for themselves this year, He has broken the U/15 boys long jump record jumping 6m10 and winning a bronze medal at English Schools. He is ranked 3 in the South West and10 in the UK. He s also ranked 3 in SW at high jump, having jumped. The other athletes show their respect of him by making sure that he is well supported when he competes
