Fraser-Pryce, Gayle should dominate awards
WHEN THE selection committee assembles to name the RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, its task should be very simple.
There were previous occasions when it had the sporting community waiting in a divided mood, anticipating the final call to go in one direction or the other. In a year like 2019, with a global event on, there is every likelihood that the choice will come from the top performers in each gender, whoever he or she might be. With the Doha World Championships recently concluded and the quality performances coming from it, that event is sure to provide the two winners. After all, the participants who competed were up against the world, as the sport knows it, and so their achievements are viewed in that light. Against that background, and in the opinion of Foster’s Fairplay, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce deserves and should have no rival in the female category. Foster’s Fairplay, along with other supporters of track and field, is prepared to go further. She is being touted as the greatest female sprinter of all time. Five individual world titles over the 100 and 200 metres and two at the Olympic level at the shorter distance speak to brilliance in this area that is unmatched in the history of the sport.
Also, the world is trying to nominate someone who should be named the face of track and field, and in the opinion of this journalist, Shelly-Ann can legitimately claim the right to that honour. The grace, elegance and humility which she has displayed over the period of her career, aligned to her unquestionable dominance on the track, should be more than enough to make her eligible for such a prestigious label.
She is a product of which all who have been associated with her development, sustenance and delivery to the world of the sport, should be justly proud. To think that, according to her own words, she has at least another year in track and field, should be more than satisfying to her multitude of fans, as it demonstrates that there could be more in store.
The choice for the Sportsman of the Year is just as easy.
In over 70 years of the country performing at the world level, there has been only one medallist in the men’s long jump. The three occasions when James Beckford accomplished those feats were at the 1993 and 2003 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics, pocketing silver each time.
In Doha, the 23-yearold Tajay
Gayle confirmed his early-season promise with a fifthround leap of 8.69m. It stunned the world, and what was even more heart-warming was the response from his coach, Stephen Francis. The former Papine High School youngster would be adding sprinting to his programme next year and he would be prepared to try for an individual spot in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics. At the time of writing, he has a personal best of 10.43 seconds. The USA’s world record holder Mike Powell was watching from the stands and the camera picked up his reaction. He leapt to his feet, applauded, and was heard to refer to Gayle as possibly being able to better his world mark of 8.95m.
It should also be noted that Gayle’s first jump was recorded as 8.46m, which would have been enough to win the event had he not gone 23cm better later. This jump of 8.69m was yet another outstanding performance and worthy of the title of Sportsman of the Year.
In a haste to acknowledge these prospective title holders, the positions of runners-up in both genders should not be forgotten. As far as the females are concerned, the selection exercise should be just as uncomplicated. By virtue of earning three medals – gold as anchor leg runner in the 4x100m relay, bronze in the 4x400m relay and bronze in the flat 400m – Shericka Jackson should be on top of that pack. Fedrick Dacres seems to be the logical choice in the male area after at last taking silver in the discus throw.