OTTAWA – Sienna MacDonald of the University of Calgary Dinos track & field program has been named the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Fred Tees Memorial Trophy as the Canadian University Athlete of the Year, Athletics Canada announced Friday.

MacDonald was one of 16 individuals recognized by the sport's national governing body, highlighting the best across all of Canada from the past competition calendar year.

MacDonald – now entering her fourth season on the track with the Dinos – had a truly remarkable 2023-24 year in the Scarlet & Gold. 

Competing in the Pentathlon, 60m hurdles and long jump, MacDonald continually set new personal bests and made Team Canada standard in hurdles for the World Athletics Indoor Championships with a time of 8.11 seconds. At the Canada West Championships, she claimed gold in all three events and took down a conference record in the 60m hurdles en route to being named the CW Track Athlete of the Year and Performer of the Meet. On the national stage, MacDonald was once again took triple gold and was honoured as the U SPORTS Athlete of the Meet.

Her performance at nationals helped spark the Dinos to a team bronze medal – their best finish since bringing home the title in 2013.

"I just want to take a minute and thank everyone that has supported my athletic journey, thus far – my family, friends, past coaches and of course my amazing coach Les Gramantik. I have learned so much since starting with him and look forward to seeing where we go from here," MacDonald said.

"Finally, I'd like to thank Athletics Canada for honouring me with such an award. I'm beyond grateful and can't wait to see what this season brings."

This marks the seventh time a Dino has been named the Canadian University Athlete of the Year by Athletics Canada. Recent Dinos Hall of Fame inductee Sam Effah was honoured in both 2008 and 2010, while current Calgary head coach and two-time Olympian Jessica Zelinka was awarded the trophy four years in a row from 2004-07.

COMPLETE 2023 ATHLETICS CANADA AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Camryn Rogers
Outstanding Field Athlete of the Year: Camryn Rogers
Best Single Performance: Ethan Katzberg
Combined Events Athlete of the Year: Pierce LePage
Outstanding Canadian Athlete in any Wheelchair Para Athletics Competition: Brent Lakatos
Outstanding Canadian Athlete in any Ambulatory Para Athletics Competition: Nate Riech
Track Athlete of the Year: Marco Arop
Outstanding Canadian Athlete in Road Racing, Cross Country and Race Walking: Cam Levins
Women's Mountain and Trail Running Athlete of the Year: Anne-Marie Comeau
Men's Mountain and Trail Running Athlete of the Year: Alexandre Ricard
Canadian University Athlete of the Year: Sienna MacDonald
Junior Athlete of the Year: Will Floyd
Youth Athlete of the Year: Julia Tunks
Development Coach of the Year: Bruce Deacon
Outstanding Coach of the Year: Dylan Armstrong
Officials of the Year: Lisa Ferdinand and Brenda O'Connor

-UC-