Victoria track official wins national award

Sports Officials Canada handed out their annual hardware last week and Victoria's Keith Newell was a big winner. Newell, an official and administrator of track and field events for more than 40 years, was named the male winner of the prestigious FOX 40 Kitch MacPherson Award of Excellence. Newell's officiating assignments include several international competitions, including two Commonwealth Games, two Pan American Games and three world championships. In Canada, he has officiated 15 national senior championships and 10 national junior championships. Newell has been a member of the Athletics Canada National Officials Committee for more than 20 years.