Tamara Jewett, a member of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues cross country and track & field teams has been named to the Canadian national team that will compete at the 2009 North America, Central America, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) cross country championships.

According to Athletics Canada selection criteria, Jewett was chosen based on her results at the 2008 Canadian cross country championships, Nov. 29, 2008, in Guelph, Ont. The Toronto native finished sixth in the 5km junior race with a time of 18:15.1. The top 12 finishers are eligible and the top six to declare were chosen.

Last year’s NACAC championships saw 170 athletes representing 16 national federations. This year’s event will be held in Orlando, Fla. on Mar. 7th and will mark the fifth year that the championship has taken place.

Under the guidance of coach Jill Mallon, Jewett was named the OUA and CIS cross country rookie of the year for being the first first-year runner to cross the finish line at both events. She placed third and fifth overall at the OUA and CIS championships, respectively, and was named an OUA first team all-star and CIS first team all-Canadian.

The arts and science major was also the OUA’s nominee for the cross country student-athlete community service award and went on to become the first Varsity Blues to win the CIS Community Service Award in this sport.