Charmaine Crooks, Bruny Surin lead Athletics Canada’s Hall of Fame class

CALGARY – Five-time Olympian Charmaine Crooks was one of five athletes inducted into Athletics Canada’s Hall of Fame on Friday.

Crooks was joined by Milt Ottey, Guillaume LeBlanc, Dave Steen and Bruny Surin.

Robert Adams was inducted in the builders’ category while Lyle Sanderson entered as a coach.

Crooks, from Vancouver, was the first Canadian woman to run under two minutes in the 800 metres.

She won silver at the 1984 Games in the 4×400-metre relay, three medals at the Pan American Games, two more at the Commonwealth Games and carried the Canadian Flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics.

Toronto’s Ottey finished the 1982 season as the world’s top high jumper. He was a finalist at the Olympics and world championships, and won three Commonwealth medals, one Pan Am medal and was an eight-time national champion.

LeBlanc, from Sept-Iles, Que., is a three-time Olympian who won silver at the 1992 Games in the 20-kilometre race walk. He also won Commonwealth gold in 1990 and set a world record in the 30-km race walk, a time that still stands today as the Canadian record. LeBlanc also holds the Canadian record in the 10,000-metre race walk.

Steen, from New Westminster, B.C., won bronze in decathlon at the 1988 Olympics and Pan Am gold in 1983.

Montreal’s Surin is a two-time gold medallist at the world indoor championship in the 60 metres, and won gold in the 4×100 relay at the 1996 Olympics. He still holds the Canadian record in the indoor 60, 100, and 200 metres and as a member of the 4×100-metre relay team.

Adams, from, Saskatoon competed as an athlete at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. He served as head coach at the 1958 Commonwealth Games, and at the 1964 Olympics. He is also on the board of directors for the Bob Adams Foundation that supports athletes, coaches and officials.

Sanderson, also from Saskatoon, lead the University of Saskatchewan to 11 national and 33 conference titles over 39 years as head coach. He was on coaching staff for 54 national teams including three Olympics and two world championships.