The following athletes have been nominated for the Sask Sport Inc. July Athlete of the Month Award:

• Kendra Chernoff, Swim Saskatchewan. At the 2009 World Aquatic Trials, Chernoff captured first in the 100m butterfly, setting a new senior/open national record. She also won gold in the 50m fly and silver in the 100m fly and placed fourth in the 200m fly. Chernoff set five new long course provincial records in the senior/open age category at the trials in the 50m, 100m and 200m fly events. Over 70 swim clubs from across the country participated, with over 50 swimmers in each event. As a result of this performance, Chernoff was selected to represent Canada on the National Senior B team, which competed at the 2009 Tri Nations Cup and at the Great Britain Grand Prix.

• Shannon Comerford, Saskatchewan Fencing Association. Comerford placed sixth out of 29 competitors in her individual category at the Pan Am Championships in El Salvador, earning her the title of top Canadian. In the team events, she placed second out of eight teams. As a result of her performance, Comerford was named to the senior national team.

• Gabrielle Edwards, Saskatchewan Triathlon Association. Edwards, 15, captured silver at the 2009 Junior Nationals, becoming the first underage athlete to place in a national competition. Her achievement came after she received permission to race with junior age athletes (aged 16-19), the first athlete to be allowed to do so. Her outstanding performance continued at the 2009 Manitoba/Saskatchewan Regional Youth Championships, where she won gold. Edwards' accomplishments solidify her as one of the top female junior triathletes in Canada.

• Jillian Gallays, Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association. Gallays competed in the 2009 Canada Cup in Guelph, Ontario. She claimed the championship title at the event, winning a gold medal in the 55kg weight category.

• Julia Garnet, Saskatchewan Cycling Association. Garnet won the 2009 Junior National Individual Time Trial, dominating the event with a 40 second lead. Due to her win, she was selected to compete at the 2009 Junior Worlds in Moscow. At the 2009 National Road Race, she placed fourth, falling just shy of a podium finish during the sprint portion of the race.

• Jesse Gibson, Saskatchewan Golf Association. Gibson claimed the championship title at the 2009 SGI Canada Saskatchewan Junior Event in Swift Current. He finished the event 15 under par with an 11 stroke victory, and shot the lowest round in three of the four days of competition. A total of 90 competitors participated in the event. Gibson also competed in the 2009 CN Future Links Prairie Event, where he finished fourth. At the 2009 Canadian Junior Men's Championship, he tied for ninth spot. Gibson is currently competing in the 2009 Canada Games in Prince Edward Island, where he is a team captain for Team Saskatchewan.

• Jordan Poliakiwski, Judo Saskatchewan. Poliakiwski won gold in her event at the 2009 Junior National Championships and also placed first at the 2009 Junior World Qualifier. As a result of her accomplishments, she will represent Canada at the 2009 Junior World Championship as a member of the Junior National Team.

• Reuben Ross, Saskatchewan Diving Association. Reuben competed at the 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championship, where he won bronze in the 3m synchro event, finished seventh in the 10m synchro and place eleventh in the 3m individual event. Competitors from 43 countries participated in the event.

• Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Team, Saskatchewan Baton Twirling Association. After being together for only six weeks, the Saskatchewan team competed at the 2009 Canadian National Baton Twirling Championships and brought home 36 per cent of the total gold medals presented. They also had a clean sweep at the awards ceremonies. Half of the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation's Grand National awards -presented to the top athletes in each category - went to Saskatchewan twirlers. Saskatchewan coach Maureen Johnson was the first recipient of the Lynda Garland Awards of Excellence.

• Kendra Schaaf, Saskatchewan Athletics. Schaaf competed in the 2009 Canadian Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships where she won the 1500m and 3000m, and set a new Canadian Junior Championship record in both events. Schaaf's performance qualified her to compete at the Pan Am Junior Championships in Trinidad and Tobago. She is currently competing at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

• Kyle Shaw, Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association. At the Junior World Championships in Switzerland, Shaw won silver in the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m. He also won bronze in the 200m and 400m events. At the 2009 Boiling Point Wheelchair Track Classic, Shaw finished fifth in the 800m and eighth in the 400m. He also placed fourth at the 2009 Luzern Invitational, competing against three 1500m Beijing Olympic finalists. Shaw will be participating in the 2010 World Championships in New Zealand.

• Under 19 Team Saskatchewan Football Team, Football Saskatchewan. The under 19 team won gold at the 2009 Football Canada Cup. Seamus Neary from Team Saskatchewan was named defensive player of the tournament.

The recipient will be named on Thursday. For more information contact Pat Rediger at (306) 780-9307 or email prediger@sasksport.sk.ca

For information regarding the Athlete of the Month Awards program, including previous nominees and recipients, visit www.sasksport.sk.ca/awards.php

August 18, 2009