The Association of Canadian Ultramarathoners has named CF Hall of Fame runner, Master Warrant Officer Victor Hickey, the 2002 Canadian Ultra Runner of the Year.

MWO Hickey celebrates his new Canadian record at the IAU Worlds 100-km in Belgium last summer.

MWO Hickey, of CFB Gagetown's 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, was Canada's 100-mile and 100-km champion in 2002, winning both by a wide margin. His 2002 Canadian championship win in Victoria, B.C., automatically qualified him for the 2003 World Cup Canadian Team.

"I thought it was great," MWO Hickey said of the award. "When I look at the results of the past year and the amount of ultra runners in Canada, it's nice to be chosen."

In September 2002, he set a record of 15:40:35 at the challenging Haliburton 100-mile race, with his closest competitor finishing only a couple of hours later.

While this kind of success comes from hard work and sheer determination, there is also a critical support network behind the scenes. The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency's (CFPSA) High Performance program, established in 1998, was designed to help athletes like MWO Hickey, coaches, trainers and officials achieve their goals.

MWO Hickey has received funding through this program for a number of years and says it is important to have this kind of support. "The funding and support I receive from CFPSA, PSP Gagetown and the CF as a whole helps me focus on training. Without it, it would be tougher to consistently post those kind of results."

The High Performance program is limited to those CF athletes who are nationally ranked in their sport and who have been specifically selected by their Sport Governing Body to represent Canada at a particular event. The program has assisted athletes like Major Tony O'Keefe (Ultra Triathlon), Captain Eileen Vaughn (Parachuting) and MWO Hickey become among the best in the world, while representing Canada and the CF in international competition.

The 2002 Canadian Ultra Runner of the Year award will be presented to MWO Hickey at the 2003 Canadian 100-km, 50-mile and 50-km Championships May 3 in Victoria, B.C.

Ms.Davis is the CFPSA Media Relations Co-ordinator.