The Class of 2018 for the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame includes a decorated swimmer and a number of championship cross-country teams.
Swimmer MacKenzie Downing was a five-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now U Sports) All-Canadian and a 17-time CIS medal winner who was with the Vikes from 2004-09. When she graduated, the Whitehorse native was the Vikes’ record holder in the 50-, 100- and 200-metre butterfly, and the 100- and 200-metre freestyle.
During her time at UVic, she was named Female Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008, and also won the 2008 President’s Cup for combining athletic and academic achievement.
She won seven gold medals at the Swimming Canada nationals, and on the international stage competed in the 2007 World Championships, the 2006 and 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the University Games in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
She was Canada’s flag bearer at the 2011 University Games.
The 1987 women’s cross-country team earns a Hall of Fame spot for stellar performances in both the Canada West and national championships.
In the Canada West cross-country event, Silverado Socrates (formerly Brenda Shackleton), Robyn Meagher, Trish Fougner (Wellman), Cathie Dargie, Beth Tarasuk, Liz Jones and Ulla Hansen won with a perfect score of 15 — with the score based on the finishing position of the first five runners.
At the nationals, held in Victoria, the Vikes tallied a winning score of 18 points, beating the previous record of 25 points set in 1982.
Socrates won her third consecutive gold medal, while Hansen was 19 seconds behind in second place, Meagher was fifth, Fougner sixth, Dargie seventh and Tarasuk 10th.
Socrates, Hansen and Socrates are already in the Hall of Fame for their individual achievements.
Rounding out the Hall of Fame selections is the men’s championship cross-country dynasty from 1994-97. A total of 14 athletes combined to win four straight national titles during that span, with Graham Cocksedge the lone member of all four teams.
Competing on three teams were Chad Pawson, Jody Lee, James Davison and Neal Beattie, with the rest of the group made up of Craig Odermatt, Paul McArthur, Ray Schmidt, Mike Coey, Mark Cryderman, Alex Coffin, James Morrison, Lucien Ervington and Jim Finlayson.
In the final year of the winning streak, two athletes made the podium with Finlayson earning second place and Cocksedge third.
Clint Hamilton, director of Vikes Athletics and Recreation, said in a statement that the 2018 inductees “illustrate the tremendous legacy of Vikes athletics.”
“From the highly accomplished MacKenzie Downing to two team inductions including one of the most dominant teams in our history, the 1987 women’s cross-country championship team, and a profound dynasty, our men’s cross-country 1994-97 teams, we will celebrate important accomplishments and athletes from our past while also recognizing the success of our current generation.”
All of those honoured in UVic’s Hall of Fame become part of the Lynda & Murray Farmer Walk of Excellence.
The 2018 inductions will take place April 4 at the annual Celebration of Champions event at the Victoria Conference Centre.
