Meet Sault Ste. Marie's Sportsperson of the Year

Local Triathlete Sherri Smith claimed the most prestigious sports award given in Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday night.

Smith was named the recipient of the H.P Broughton Award at the 49th Annual Rotary Club Sports Awards at the Marconi Club as the city's Sportsperson of the Year.

The dinner honoured Smith and handed out awards to several local high school athletes for their performance during the boys season.

Korah Collegiate's Jourdan Morin, a multi-sport participant, also walked away a big winner by claiming the Walter Lowe Trophy, awarded to the top male high school athlete.

Sir James Dunn's Graham Dalseg, another multi-sport athlete, won the B'nai B'rith Award for the graduating high school student best combining athletics with academics.

Smith's excellence as a triathlete was best displayed last May when she won the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships in Portugal in the 25-29 age group. Against 800 competitors, Smith finished the 1,500-metre swim, 40k bike and 10k run in 2:19:19.

The Broughton Award marked the third honour in the past three months for Smith's accomplishments in 2004. Smith was also named the Canadian and Ontario Age-Group Female Triathlete of the Year.

Smith was selected for the Broughton Award, voted on by members of the local sports media, over two other nominees, the Soo Bantam Greyhounds AAA Bantam Major hockey team and the Soo North Stars AAA Midget hockey club.

"I was really surprised," said Smith. "I really thought I was going to get beat out by the hockey teams."

Locally, Smith continues to work feverishly to build her sport in the area while eyeing the chance to represent Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China.

"I'm really focused on the Olympics. It's basically go to the Olympics or retire, that's it. Everything I'm working on is for 2008."

Currently, Smith is training for the Canadian Elite Triathlon Championships in B.C. in August.

Complete details, photos and the remaining award winners are posted on the SooToday.com Sports page.