St. John's runner earns top athlete honours at Simon Fraser University

Distance runner Julia Howley capped off an impressive season by being named one of the Lorne Davies Athletes of the Year at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

Golfer Chris Crisologowas the other athlete to earn the trophy.

The 21-year-old from St. John's didn't expect to hear her name called at the school's year-end banquet honouring it's top athletes.

"I was really excited just to be associated with those other girls who were nominated," Howley said in a phone interview from SFU'sBurnaby, B.C. campus.

"[It was] ahuge honour, and very unexpected."

Theuniversity is a long way from home, and Howley has questioned the time and effort she's put into running, wondering if it was all worth it.

"Things started to align and these past couple of seasons have been amazing," she said.

"I've gotten more out of it than I ever could have anticipated, and I think this award really capped it off very nicely."

• St. John's runner Julia Howley making strides in NCAA

Howley, who isstudying sustainable business, put up some impressive numbers in thecross country running season.

She qualified for three different national championships and was a four-time All-American, leading hercross country team to its first-ever unbeaten regular season and a 10thplace finish at nationals.

Howleyfinished 15th at cross country nationals, the second highest placing ever by a Simon Fraser Universityrunner.

On the track,Howleyfinshedninth in the outdoor 1,500 m and 12th in the indoor 3,000 m at the NCAA championships.

"I think it also speaks to the depths and the whole work ethic of our program," she said.

"Without my teammates supporting me and pushing me at practice I wouldn't be able to do what I've done this year."