By RON SMITH
Sports Editor
Matt Leeder's ability as a runner is definitely taking him places and winning him awards.
The 17-year-old Leeder was named the Sportsperson of the Year at the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame Kinsmen awards banquet at CJ's Dining Hall on Thursday night.
It's the second time the talented TISS Pirates' cross-country and track and field runner has won top honours after first sharing the spotlight with baseball's Andy Stewart in 2005.
In voting by the 280 people in attendance, Leeder topped golfer Brooke Mallory, track and field's Tim Nedow, rower Dan O'Shaughnessy and all-around athlete Sara Watt for the award.
With his countless gold medals from provincial and national competitions in cross-country as well as track and field, Leeder will be graduating from TISS as one of the most decorated along with being one of the most impressive runners in Leeds and Grenville high school history.
"Basically, running is responsible for getting me where I want to go in life. My goal ever since I was a kid was to get a running scholarship," said Leeder, the son of Ray and Diane of Maitland. "And now that I've accomplished that, my next goal is to make the Olympics."
"I just want to keep training hard and lowering my times and I know Florida State (where he is going this fall on a running scholarship) will help me do that," continued the well-spoken Leeder.
The talented cross-country and middle distance runner will find out Monday if he will be a member of the Canadian team that will be competing in the Pan American Games in Brazil in July.
He's already worn the Canadian colours after representing his country in Kenya at the world junior cross-country championships in March, calling that a highlight of a young career that shows much more to come.
Leeder knew he had the opportunity to become a good runner after Grade 9 when the won the all-Ontario high school cross-country championships, the first local runner to accomplish that feat.
After that, Leeder believed he had the opportunity to be good and he focussed on training to improve his times.
Dropping soccer and hockey in Grade 10, he dedicated himself to running and working on his running technique and endurance.
Through his high school years in winning cross-country and track gold medals, Leeder always remained modest and humble and thankful for the support around him.
"Definitely, when you have the support of your hometown, it means a lot," said Leeder, talking not only about winning this award but about the community's support before he went to Kenya.
"I really appreciate all the support everybody in Brockville has given me," said Leeder with a thank you, also remembering his coaching staff at TISS along with his parents.
It was a double win for Leeder at the banquet with the Pirates track and field team capturing the team of the year honours.
In voting done at the dinner by those in attendance, the Pirates won the award over the Brockville Bantam B Angels, the Rideau-St. Lawrence Kings Major Atoms, the Riverdogs Slo-pitch and the St. Mary Crusaders curlers.
As a team, the Pirates swept through the 2006 high school track and field season, winning team titles at all competitions, culminating with the all-Ontario track and field team overall title.
The Pirates became the first-ever school from outside the Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor area to capture the top team honours in competing against 'AAAA' schools.
Athletes from the Pirates won 14 medals at last year's OFSAA and two members of that team - Leeder and Nedow - were finalists for sportsperson of the year honours.
The Pirates made it a triple play on the evening when track and field coach Randy Givogue won the 50-50, worth $408.