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| From left) JAAA’s Male Athlete of the Year Usain Bolt, Coach of the Year Glen Mills and Female Athlete of the Year Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce display their awards at the Golden Cleats Awards Luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) |
BY DANIA BOGLE | Jamaica Observer staff reporter
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
AS expected, Olympic Games sprint champions Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce walked away with the 2012 Male Athlete and Female Athlete
of the Year Awards at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association
(JAAA) Golden Cleats Awards Luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston
yesterday.
Celebrated coach Glen Mills was named the Coach of the Year.
The three were chosen by a selection panel which included Earl Bailey,
Anthony Foster, Donald Quarrie, Bernie Panton and Hubert Lawrence.
Bolt, who was last year named the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) top male athlete, became the first person to
successfully defend the Olympic 100m and 200m titles at the London
Olympics in August. He was also a member of the 4x100m relay team which
broke the world record.
Bolt, who quickly fled the function, briefly spoke of his pride in being recognised by his countrymen.
"It's always good to be appreciated by your own Jamaicans; it's the
JAAA, so it's wonderful. For me, it's always wonderful to see Jamaican
people celebrating and having a good time," he said.
Fraser-Pryce became the first non-American to retain the women's Olympic
100m title when she posted 10.75 seconds for victory. She also copped
silver in the 200m in a personal best 22.09 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce was also a member of the 4x100m relay silver medal-winning
team and set a new personal best and national record 10.70secs to win
the 100m at the Olympic Trials in June as well as the IAAF Diamond
League title.
The diminutive star, who also delivered the vote of thanks, called for
an end to the animosity between groups falling under the umbrella of the
JAAA, calling for unity for the good of the sport locall.
"Put away what side is feuding and what side is not feuding," she said.
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