It’s Fraser-Pryce and Broadbell
Veteran sprinter is RJRGLEANER Sportswoman of the Year; sprint hurdler captures first Sportsman of the Year crown
FOR THE fifth time, Shelly-ann Fraserpryce is Jamaica’s top sportswoman while a breakout season for Rasheed Broadbell ended with him being named the country’s top sportsman.
Fraser-pryce and Broadbell were named National Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year, respectively, at the RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The ceremony, which celebrated the top sporting performances of 2022, returned to its face-to-face format after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 edition and last year’s virtual ceremony.
Five proved to be the magic number for Fraser-pryce in 2022 as her fifth honour came after a stellar season where she won her fifth World 100m title in a championship record 10.67 seconds as well as capturing her fifth Diamond League league title. Additionally, the 36-yearold clocked seven sub-10.70 second times in 2022 which included a world-leading time of 10.62. Her efforts earned her a World Athletics Women Athlete of the Year nomination and she was named a finalist among what was called the most competitive field of nominees in many years.
Meanwhile, Broadbell, the 22-year-old sprint hurdler captured his first-ever Sportsman of the Year award after a breakout season that took off in the second half of the year. After finishing second in the National Championships in June and narrowly missing out on a World Championship final place on his first attempt, Broadbell captured his first-ever major title, winning the 110m hurdles Commonwealth Games title in 13.08, equalling the Games record set by England’s Colin Jackson in 1990 and equalled in 1994. He would continue his strong showing into the latter half of the campaign, beating World champion Grant Holloway twice which included a 12.99 clocking, a new personal best. It was a performance that would make him the third Jamaican to go under 13 seconds. He added a silver in the Diamond League final, capping off a year that would see him finish ranked fourth in the world.