It’s Fedrick and Alia - Discus champ and top swimmer crown RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year
Published:Friday | January 18, 2019 | 12:00 AMAndre Lowe/ Sports Editor
Swimming sensation Alia Atkinson and discus standout Fedrick Dacres yesterday walked away with the top awards at the RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
Atkinson, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, as well as three gold medals at the FINA World Cup, was winning her third award overall and her second in as many year, after a season that also included a world record swim in the 50m breaststroke.
Atkinson's year also included three gold medals at the CAC Games and two gold medals at the FINA World Championships.
She swept the 50m breaststroke at the FINA World Cup and won three gold and two silver medals in the 100m.
There was a tie for the runner-up spot for the RJRGLEANER National Sportswoman of the Year, with triple jumper Kimberly Williams and shot-putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd sharing the honour. Both won gold at the Commonwealth Games and silver at the World Indoor Championships in their respective events.
A DOMINANT FIGURE
Dacres was a dominant figure on the global scene, winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, Continental Cup and at the Diamond League finals. He improved the national record to 69.67m and took gold at the NACAC Senior Championships.
Commonwealth Games 110m hurdles champion Ronald Levy was the runner-up for the RJRGLEANER National Sportsman of the Year.
Atkinson also won the Iconic Award and received the most votes for the People's Choice Performance of the Year Award for her world record swim.
Ian Wilkinson, the recently appointed Honorary Vice President of the World Chess Federation and president of the Jamaica Chess Federation, received the Chairman's Award, while 16 year-old Reggae Girlz winger Jody Brown won the Youth Award.