A University of Guelph long-distance runner has capped off his athletic career with the country’s top athletics award.

Ross Proudfoot was named the top male athlete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Monday night during a ceremony in Calgary.

He is the first-ever Gryphon to win the award.

He received a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school, in addition to a gold ring and watch received by all finalists from the 2014-2015 season.

Proudfoot was one of four male finalists up for 23rd annual BLG Awards, handed out by the CIS to recognize the country’s top male and female university Canadian athletes in all sports. The awards are sponsored by the national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais.

He was named the Ontario candidate for the BLG Awards thanks to a strong fifth and final year at U of G. In 2014-2015, he dominated his competition in cross-country, receiving MVP honours at both Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and CIS levels, while also winning team titles at both.

At the CIS cross-country championships in Newfoundland in November, he came first and also led the Gryphons to victory in the national championship.

In 2014-2015, Proudfoot won gold medals in the 1,500m and 3,000m events at both OUA and CIS track and field championships. Originally from Sudbury, he received the George Gemer Award as the “Most Outstanding Athlete of the Meet” at the 2015 CIS track and field championships.

Proudfoot is also a two-time winner of the University of Guelph’s male athlete of the year award.

He ends his Gryphon career as a nine-time All-Canadian, six-time national champion (five in cross-country, one in track and field) and with a total of 19 CIS medals (10 team, nine individual). He hopes to qualify for this year’s Pan Am Games and World Track and Field Championships, as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.