The 2023 CTFL Draft saw 145 athletes from across Canada be selected by the league’s four teams. This draft saw a range of athletes – from young runners to Olympians – be selected to participate in the young league. As the season has come to an end, we are taking a look back at the top 10 core athletes selected in the draft, and re-ranking them based on points won for their team.

Each ranking will be accompanied by a summary of their CTFL season, diving into how some of these athletes shined, while others didn’t.

1. David Adeleye, Bears: 70 points

Taken with the fourth pick of the third round, the sprint hurdler showed that he should’ve been chosen first. One of two athletes to run sub-14, Adeleye broke the CTFL record with a 13.92 at the London, Ont. preliminary meet. With the fastest time in the preliminary and championship meets, and the second fastest free mark (13.98), the Bears racked up 70 points for his team, just one behind team MVP, Alec Purnell.

2. Jasmine Lew, Huskies: 65 points

Selected with the second pick of the fourth round, Lew was the first field athlete selected in the draft. The long jumper had a strong 2023 CTFL season, placing second in both marks during the season, and first in the championship with a 5.89m jump. Lew’s results won her team 65 points, the most in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the event.

3. Sadie-Jane Hickson, Bears: 61 points

Fourth Pick of the second round, Hickson finished at the top of the women’s 800m division with 61 points. Hickson placed second during the regular season with an impressive consistency. She ran a 2:04.88 free mark, and a personal best of 2:04.84 at the Royal City Inferno meet in Guelph, Ont. At the championship race, she again placed second, running a 2:08.04.

4. Immanuel Onyemah, Arctics: 57 points

First pick of the fourth round, Onyemah picked up 57 points in a competitive men’s 100m division. Those 57 points came from a third-place free mark, a second-place prelim mark, and a second-place finish at the championship meet (and a bonus point). Lining up beside division leader Brandon Letts and Olympion Usheoritse Itsekiri at the Bob Vigars Classic meet in May, Onyemah ran his personal best of 10.46. 

5. Tyra Boug, Spitfires: 46 points

The third pick of the second round, the Spitfires sprint hurdler produced solid results throughout the season. Her free mark of 13.74 was the second fastest in the division, and her 13.54 preliminary time was the fastest. Injury prevented Boug from competing in the CTFL championship meet, but – given her mark – her performance might’ve moved her higher than third overall in the division.

6. Nina Whitford, Bears: 41 points

Taken with the fourth pick of the first round, 1500m athlete Whitford was the earliest selected core athlete in the draft. The 23 year-old put solid times during the season, achieving a new personal best of 4:16.09 in June, the second-fastest free mark in the division. With her PB run, plus a 4:16.42 preliminary mark, Whitford won the Bears 41 points. Whitford’s CTFL season was cut short as she was unable to compete at the championship meet due to nagging injuries. Next season, the 2023 U Sports 1500m silver medalist will look to win even more points for her team.

7. Shanice Williams, Spitfires: 33 points

100m athlete Williams was selected in the third round with the third pick. She picked up 33 points for the winning team with a second-placed free mark and seasons best of 11.82 and a fourth-placed 12.07 preliminary time. Williams did not compete in the CTFL championship meet.

8. Craig Thorne, Arctics: 25 points

Selected with the first pick of the second round, Thorne was the second-highest core athlete to be taken in the draft, and for good reason. The Arctics hurdler picked up 25 points for his team with a blisteringly fast 13.52 at the NCAC U23 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica. The run, his personal best, is tied for the seventh fastest 110mH run by a Canadian. Thorne was unable to compete in a preliminary meet due to load management, and had to pull out of the CTFL championship meet for the same reason. If Thorne can record similar times in all three marks next season, he’ll likely be competing for team MVP.

9. Sergio Ráez Villanueva, Huskies: 6 points

5,000m athlete Villanueva was taken with the second pick of the third round. Villanueva was a smart pick for the Huskies, as he is a decorated distance runner in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events. The 2018 10,000m national champion was unable to return to form this season, running a sixth-placed preliminary time of 14:58:08, and recording no free mark. If the 26 year-old can return to his 2022 form, a year in which he ran a personal best of 14:17.63, he will be wildly successful in the 2024 CTFL season.

10.  Aleeya Hutchins, Arctics: 0 points

Taken with the first pick of the third round, 800m athlete Hutchins’ season did not pan out as the Arctics had envisioned. Sidelined with an injury throughout the season, Hutchins was unable to compete. Her personal best of 2:04.73 would have made her the second-fastest athlete in the event, but, unfortunately, she could not contribute to her team’s point tally.

With all but one drafted athlete returning in 2024, those who excelled will have the chance to continue their dominance, and those who did not can have the season they were not able to have this past year. With the 2024 CTFL Draft taking place in March, teams will look to select athletes that will propel them to a championship in the coming season.