The competitors for the titles of Jamaica’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Yr for 2023 has formally kicked off with the announcement of the nominees on Wednesday.
The 63rd RJR Sports activities Basis Feminine and Male Athletes of the Yr award ceremony guarantees an intense contest amongst a number of the nation’s most distinctive athletic abilities. Notably, World Athletics Championships gold medalists Shericka Jackson, Danielle Williams, and Antonio Watson are among the many standout contenders.
Along with these prestigious awards, there may be additionally anticipation surrounding the Individuals’s Alternative Award, which incorporates Jackson’s outstanding 200m victory, Williams’ spectacular triumph within the 100m hurdles, and Watson’s ground-breaking efficiency on the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The thrill for these accolades is palpable, given the outstanding achievements of those athletes on the worldwide stage.
Awards ceremony set for January 19, 2024
The disclosing of the winners of those prestigious awards is scheduled for January 19, 2024. Jackson, broadly thought to be a heavy favourite to safe the award, after inexplicably ending second to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2022, continued to shine with one other excellent season.
She secured a silver medal within the 100m on the World Championships in Budapest and demonstrated her distinctive type by clinching the Diamond League titles in each the 100m and 200m occasions in Eugene, Oregon.
Williams additionally had an distinctive 12 months, stunning many by claiming victory within the extremely aggressive 100m hurdles occasion in Budapest. Her efficiency outshone formidable rivals, together with reigning Olympic Video games gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, in addition to Kendra Harrison, and world report holder Tobi Amusan.
Trailblazing Jamaican sprinter
The Feminine Athlete of the Yr competitors intensifies with the inclusion of World Championship bronze medalists Rushell Clayton and Fraser-Pryce, in addition to Suncorp Tremendous Netball League standout Jhaniele Fowler.
Within the Male Athlete of the Yr class, Watson, the trailblazing Jamaican sprinter, leads the nominations. Watson made historical past by changing into the primary Jamaican man in 40 years to safe a gold medal within the World Championships 400m occasion. The checklist of male nominees additionally options World Championships 110m hurdles silver medalist and Diamond League champion Hansle Parchment, together with standout lengthy jumpers Wayne Pinnock and Tajay Gayle, who gained silver and bronze medals in Budapest.
Pan American Video games 400m hurdles champion Jaheel Hyde and motorsports star Fraser McConnell are additionally among the many nominees.
Memorable sporting moments
The Individuals’s Alternative Award nominations embody memorable sporting moments, together with Shamar Nicholson’s game-changing aim within the latest CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final match in opposition to Canada and Drew Spence’s outstanding free-kick efficiency in opposition to Canada of their Olympic qualifier.
The choice panel, chaired by Mike Fennell, contains a distinguished line-up, together with retired media practitioner Courtney Sergeant, Olympian Deon Hemmings-McCatty, President of Jamaica’s Inter-Secondary Faculty Sports activities Affiliation Keith Wellington, and Michael Corridor, former chairman of the Sports activities Basis and League Operations Supervisor of the Caribbean Premier League.
