CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Women's Track & Field legend, and two-time Olympian, Perdita Felicien was announced as one of five members of the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The induction ceremony will take place July 6 in Edmonton, Alta., kicking off the Canadian Track & Field Championships and Selection Trials for the Rio Olympic Games.
"I'm thrilled to be inducted into Athletic Canada's Hall of Fame for 2016," exclaimed Felicien. "To be honored in this way is a reminder that my contributions matter, even today. A major part of my success comes from my time as an Illini, where I learned how to be a champion on and off the track. I'd like to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way."
Under the tutelage of longtime Illinois Head Coach Gary Winckler, Felicien was a three-time NCAA Champion, 10-time All-American, four-time Big Ten Champion and the 2001 USTCA Female Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year. Felicien also currently owns school records in the 60m hurdles (7.90), 100m hurdles (12.53) and shuttle hurdle relay (52.85). In 2002, Felicien was honored as the University of Illinois Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year.
At the national and global level, Felicien won Canadian Junior Championships in 1998 and 1999. After finishing her freshman year at Illinois in 2000, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year qualified for the Canadian Olympic Team and competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Felicien continued her world success with 100m hurdle World Championships in 2003 and 2004. In August of 2004, Perdita once again qualified for the Olympics, this time advancing to the 100m hurdle final in Athens. As a result of her accomplishments, the Pickering, Ontario native was named the Canadian Track & Field Athlete of the Year. She received the honor again in 2007.
Over the course of the next seven years, Felicien would add three more Canadian national titles, and win silver medals at the 2007 Pan Am Games, 2007 IAAF World Championships, a bronze medal at the Continental Cup.
After announcing her retirement in 2013, the 10-time Candaian National Champion has become a broadcast journalist, and will be a part of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for the upcoming Rio Olympic Games. The former Illini is also working on writing her first book that details her experiences as a first generation Canadian.
