Jamaicans miss out on inaugural CANOC Awards, Alfred dominates

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos (CMC):

ST LUCIA’S sprint queen Julien Alfred walked away with two awards, including the coveted Caribbean Female Sports Personality of the Year, when the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Sports Awards was held on Saturday.

Alfred, who made history when she won her country’s first-ever medal at the Olympics when she copped gold in the women’s 100 metres and silver in the 200 metres in Paris, beat out Olympic 400 metres champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rican sprint hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Shafiqua Maloney from St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts.

Additionally, the 23-year-old Alfred also shared the Caribbean Breakthrough Award with Dominica’s Olympic gold medallist Thea LaFond, which is an accolade for athletes who have earned their first medal at a continental or international multisport competition.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s five-time Olympic wrestling champion, Mijain Lopez Nunez, won the Caribbean Male Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of Grenadian decathlete Lindon Victor and Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona.

The Dominican Republic’s women’s volleyball team and men’s football team claimed the Caribbean Team of the Year awards, while the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee was also named National Olympic Committee of the Year.

Barbados’ Anmar Goodridge-Boyce was awarded the Caribbean Sports Media Award, and the late Judy Simons of Bermuda was posthumously honoured with the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to advancing sports administration in the region.