Affiliate member organization Saskatchewan Athletics nominated Lehner for the Saskatchewan Sport Award, which is presented by the provincial federation of sport governing bodies. Saskatchewan sports media and affiliate member organizations were central to the voting process that determined the winners.
Lehner was honoured for her athletic accomplishments over the course of 2012, which are staggering by any measure.
The young athlete won five gold medals at the SHSAA High School Provincial Championships in the senior girls 100 m and 200 m sprints, 80 m hurdles, long jump and 4 x 100 m relay. She also received the Senior Girls Aggregate Award.
Lehner earned a gold medal at the 2012 Saskatchewan Provincial Championships national senior/junior trails and qualified to compete in the heptathlon at the Canadian Junior National Championships.
At the latter event, she gained a silver medal for her performance in the heptathlon as a youth competing against girls two years older than her in the junior category.
Lehner achieved new personal bests in the heptathlon (for which she was ranked No. 4 in Canada for junior women) and 200 m, but also competed in the 100 m hurdles, high jump and long jump.
Later in the year, she took home six gold medals in track and field at the Saskatchewan Summer Games, coming out on top in the girls 100 m and 200 m sprints, 100 m and 300 m hurdles, long jump and 4 x 100 m relay. Meanwhile, she received a bronze medal in the girls spring medley relay.
Notably, Lehner set a new games record in the girls 300 m hurdles, new Saskatchewan Athletics native and open out door records for youth women’s 300 m hurdles, and established a new personal best in the same event.
Another competition, the Legion Canadian Youth Track and Field Competitions, was characterized by Lehner’s gold medal win in the girls under 18 300 m race and a silver in the long jump.
Furthermore, she broke the Saskatchewan Athletics native and open outdoor records for youth women’s 300 m hurdles, again attaining a new personal best. Lehner was ranked No. 1 among youth women in Canada for the 300 m hurdles and No. 2 for the youth long jump in 2012.
Overall, Lehner won 12 gold medals, five silver medals and two bronze medals during the 2012 indoor track and field season. Prior to her recognition by Sask Sport Inc., she had received the Kinsmen Female Athlete of the Meet Award at last year’s Kinsmen Indoor Track and Field Meet.
Though Lehner was in Phoenix on Wednesday and unavailable for comment, the Daily Herald will feature an expanded story and interview upon her return.
