A few of Prince George's top young athletes were recognized for their commitment and dedication to their sport at the third annual Fan the Flame dinner Friday.
The Rising Star award is a newly created honour by PacificSport Northern BC to shine a spotlight on northern athletes who may have a good chance of taking part in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
The inaugural recipients Friday were Kristen Yawney (judo), Evan Bichon (snowboard cross), Emily Dickson (biathlon) and Carolina Hiller (speed skating).
Yawney, 15, picked up 10 medals for the Prince George Judo Club in the last 12 months, including winning the provincial championship in the under-70 kilograms class and picking up the silver medal at the junior nationals.
In his first national competition at the Canadian Snowboard Speed championship, Bichon won the bronze medal after qualifying for the event with a gold medal at the B.C. championship. The 13 year old is ranked third in B.C. in the under-14 category in snowboard cross.
Dickson, from Burns Lake, won a silver medal at the 2012 Canadian Biathlon championship in the 7.5 kilometre girls individual race at Valcartier, Quebec.
Hiller, a member of the Prince George Speed Skating Club, placed first overall in her category at the Canada West short track championship in March. She won the 200m, 400m, 1,500m and 3,000m while helping the 3,000m relay team skate to gold.
PacificSport also handed out its athlete of the year award to biathlete Sarah Beaudry. The 17-year-old Caledonia Nordic Ski Club member competed at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria in January. Before returning home, she raced in biathlete and cross-country ski events in Quebec.
