Thursday, January 21, 2016
RICHMOND, B.C. — Simon Fraser University track and field and cross country coach Brit Townsend has been named a finalist for Sport BC Female Coach of the Year.
During the 2014-15 season, Townsend led Simon Fraser to GNAC and NCAA Division II West Region women's cross country team titles, and was voted the GNAC and West Region's Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
The women's cross country team finished seventh at 2014 NCAA Division II National Championships, its highest finish ever, while the men qualified for the national meet for the first time ever and placed 20th. The Clan women followed that with their first-ever Top 10 finish at the 2015 Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, finishing seventh.
In addition, Clan senior Lindsey Butterworth won national 800-meter titles at both the NCAA Division II national indoor and outdoor championships. Townsend also coached Butterworth to a spot on Canada's world student games team and coached Olympian Jessica Smith to a position on the national team for the Pan American Games.
The GNAC Coach of the Year award was the first for Townsend since the Clan started competing in the GNAC championship meet in 2011.
Townsend, now in her 16th season as SFU's head coach, had great success at the NAIA level prior to SFU joining the GNAC and NCAA, winning five consecutive NAIA national titles between 2003 and 2007.
Townsend is a finalist for the Sport BC award along with Ariana Van Der Starre from Speed-Skating and Carolyn Murray from Triathlon
The 50th Annual Sport BC Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner is set for Thursday, March 10th, 2016 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East. The ceremonies will recognize BC's best in amateur sport.