The Hill City-University long-distance runner was named athlete of the year at the Athletics Otago awards last night.
It is Aitkenhead’s second consecutive year winning Otago’s top gong and is a boost as she lines up for the national road mile championships and inaugural national 5km road championships in Rotorua this weekend.
Aitkenhead (nee Greene) has had a remarkable season including winning the 1500m at the Sir Graeme Douglas International, winning her first women’s senior 1500m national title, and she was selected for the Oceania championships.
She was also named senior summer athlete of the year at the awards.
More than 40 awards were presented, celebrating the region’s athletes, coaches, officials and support staff.
Among the highlights were Ariki runner Catherine Lund, who was named junior summer athlete and female winter athlete of the year, and Alexander Brown, who picked up winter male athlete of the year.
Masters athlete of the year went to Alison Newall, while Jorja Gibbons and Alexa Duff were joint winners of the outstanding performance by a year 12-13 athlete.
Raylene Bates was named outstanding coach of the year for her work with para athletes and Paralympian Anna Grimaldi won outstanding performance by a para athlete.
Joan Merrilees and Megan Gibbons were recognised for their contributions to coaching and David Crewe and Robert Homan for their contributions to athletics.
Aitkenhead, Grimaldi and Crewe were recognised for their contribution to athletics in the region alongside Kevin O’Sullivan, Richard Fogarty, Alex Warlow, Richard Kinley, Robert Homan, Russell Lund, Marc Boulle, Kieran Fowler, Mark McHutchon and Hayley McHutchon.
