Today we are shining a spotlight on Purple Blanket Award Recipient Kate Current of the Mustangs Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.
Video Interview with Winner Kate Current
To watch the video interview with Kate Current and Cross Country Head Coach Guy Schultz, please click below. For closed captioning options, please view the interview on our YouTube platform https://youtu.be/dy7CUPZb8G0
Purple Blanket Awards are granted to students who, often in their graduating year, are nominated by their coaches and chosen by members of the Selection Committee. Nominated individuals must have been a Western Mustangs student athlete for a minimum of three (3) years, have received a minimum of three (3) First Colour Awards throughout their career, and have been an active participant in their respective sport at the time of recommendation.
Current has been part of the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams for the past five years. She has been a Team Captain of both teams for the past two seasons and has won First Colour Awards for both sports for the past five seasons. In the 2019-20 season, she was awarded Female Athlete of the Year of both teams, part of the OUA All Star 1st Teams for both sports, and part of the U Sports All Star 1st Team for Cross Country and 2nd Team for Track and Field. She has individually placed in multiple OUA and U Sports Championships and was set to represent Team Canada in 2020 FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Morocco before its cancellation due to COVID-19. Current is also the recipient of the 2020-21 F.W.P. Jones Trophy.
Track and Field Head Coach Vickie Croley described Current as having "exceptional skill" and described Current as "one the all-time best distance runners ever at Western". "[Current] made her first National team which I believe is only a steppingstone of what lies ahead for this incredible athlete." said Coach Croley. "[Current] has developed into one of the al-time best distance runners at Western." noted Coach Croley. She explained that she was looking forward to seeing Current "continue to improve, winning multiple medals and achieving All-Canadian performances that she has demonstrated she is capable of."
Cross Country Head Coach Guy Schultz remarked that "[Current] was always one of our stronger runners on the Cross Country team, but with her strong work ethic she continued to make big improvements each year. I believe Kate's competitive running career has just begun and she has many years of strong racing ahead of her."
Current has also been a part of the Western University's Women in Engineering club for the past four years. She is currently completing her Engineering degree from Western.
On behalf of the Western Mustangs, congratulations to Kate Current on winning a 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award, recognizing her amazing accomplishments.
