GUELPH, Ont. – Guelph Gryphons cross country coach Terry Radchenko was recently recognized by Canadian Running Magazine as the recipient of a 'Golden Shoe Award.' Radchenko was named the publication's Coach of the Year following a memorable 2021, which included him taking over for his first season in charge of the University of Guelph cross country program.
 
Back on November 6, 2021 in London, Radchenko helped guide the Gryphons men's and women's cross country teams to a sweep of the OUA titles. Two weeks later at nationals in Quebec City, Radchenko coached the U of G men's cross country team to a second-place finish with 67 points (only five points behind Laval), with U of G's Mitchell Ubene taking home the men's individual title; with the Gryphon women also reaching the podium thanks to their third-place finish at the 2021 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships.
 
The success of the Gryphon cross country program was part of a memorable 2021 year for Radchenko, who also coached two athletes to their Olympic debuts in Tokyo (Madeleine Kelly, women's 800m & Lucia Stafford, women's 1,500m). Another athlete who Radchenko worked closely with for years, Gabriela DeBues-Stafford, had a standout performance in her second Olympic Games, reaching the final of the women's 1,500m in Tokyo. Her fifth-place finish tied for Canada's second-best result ever in the event. Radchenko coached Gabriela from Grade 10 through university, while also working with her in her first year as a post-collegiate athlete. Prior to joining the University of Guelph in 2021, Radchenko had spent 17 years at the University of Toronto, the first eight as a junior development coach with the University of Toronto Track Club and the next nine as assistant track and field coach with the varsity program. In August 2021 he was named head cross-country coach and associate head coach for track and field at the University of Guelph.
 
"Since joining our U of G family back in the summer, it has been an absolute joy to watch the way in which Terry works alongside our Gryphon student-athletes," says Scott McRoberts, Director of Athletics at the University of Guelph. "Our cross country teams enjoyed a phenomenal 2021 season, but the part that we are most proud of is how quickly Terry was able to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all of the student-athletes he works with."