TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is pleased to announce that Humber College fifth-year cross country student-athlete Vicky Siemon is its 2011-12 female athlete of the year.

Siemon drastically improved on her results from the previous season, resulting in Humber's best OCAA cross country campaign in five seasons. The former track and field athlete at Western joined the Humber program in the 2010-11 season, having to adjust to running the longer 5 km distance. Siemon finished in 12th place at the 2010 OCAA championships in a time of 20:45.

During the off-season, Siemon committed to bettering herself in her new sport. It resulted in her shaving not just seconds, but minutes off her personal best times. She was immediately rewarded for her efforts at the opening race of the 2011 OCAA season, fittingly on the same course that hosted provincials 11 months earlier. Siemon improved her previous result by 98 seconds, winning in a time of 19:07, almost a full minute ahead of runner up and defending OCAA silver medalist Richelle Moore of St. Lawrence-Kingston.

Siemon proved that this result was not a fluke at the 2011 OCAA championships. She won the women's individual gold medal in a time of 18:06, forty-one seconds ahead of two-time OCAA bronze medalist Erika Houde-Pearce of George Brown. Moore, becoming a multiple OCAA medalist, finished third.

Siemon's teammates got caught up in the wake of her success, also improving on their individual times throughout the season. This resulted in Humber winning its first OCAA women's and overall team titles in four seasons. The men's team placed second, Humber's best finish since 2006.

At the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) nationals, Siemon was just seconds away from adding another individual gold medal to her collection. She led the race for the first two laps, but on the final lap, Red Deer's Jodi Sanquin overtook Siemon in a dramatic finish. Only three seconds separated the two runners at the finish line, as Siemon was forced to settle for silver. It marked Humber's best-ever individual result at nationals.

Siemon was still rewarded with a national gold medal, however, as the Humber women's team won their first-ever national title. The OCAA as a conference swept both men's and women's crowns.

Humber honoured Siemon as its co-female athlete of year as well as its cross country MVP.

Siemon will be presented her OCAA female athlete of the year award later this month. She becomes the first cross country runner to earn this honour, and the fourth Humber student-athlete.

OCAA FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
2011-12: Vicky Siemon, Humber (Cross Country)
2010-11: Landis Doyle, Humber (Volleyball)
2009-10: Renee Yip, Humber (Badminton)
2008-09: Ashley Docking, Seneca (Soccer, Basketball)
2007-08: Katie Szeghalmi, Durham (Soccer)
2006-07: Megan Stacey, Nipissing (Volleyball)
2005-06: Natasha Thombs, Seneca (Basketball)
2004-05: Lisa Martin, Cambrian (Soccer, Volleyball)
2003-04: Erin Smith, Durham (Fastball, Volleyball)
2002-03: Stacey Michaels, Cambrian (Badminton)
2001-02: Joanna Vitale, Humber (Soccer, Indoor Soccer)
2000-01: Anita Kralt, Redeemer (Basketball, Soccer, Indoor Soccer)
1999-2000: Gabe Roy and Melanie Finley, Cambrian (Badminton)
1998-99: Sue Mileva, Seneca (Badminton)
1997-98: Joanna Van Dyke, Durham (Fastball, Volleyball)
1996-97: Marcy Skribe, Durham (Basketball)

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com