World champions Shericka Jackson and Antonio Watson have been honored with the prestigious RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation’s National Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards, which were presented at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Friday night.
Jackson’s remarkable 2023 season culminated in her National Sportswoman of the Year win. During the season, she successfully defended her women’s 200-meter title at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, setting a new national record with an impressive time of 21.41 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in the event.
She also claimed silver medals in both the women’s 100 meters and the 4×100 meters at the World Championships before securing Diamond League titles in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Jackson’s outstanding performance
Despite missing out on the women’s World Athlete of the Year award to Kenyan middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon last month, Jackson’s outstanding performance earned her the coveted award on the night.
On the men’s side, Watson received the Sportsman of the Year award for the first time. Watson closed out a memorable 2023 season by clinching his first senior title with a time of 44.22 seconds, defeating Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Watson, who had been a rising star since his days at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships during an illustrious junior career, finally received recognition for his achievements. He also set a new personal best of 44.13 seconds in the World Championships semi-finals, securing Jamaica’s first men’s 400 meters title in 40 years, the last being won by Bert Cameron during the inaugural staging of the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983.
People’s Choice Award
Watson’s exceptional run in the men’s 400-meter final at the World Championships also earned him the People’s Choice Award.
Other notable winners at the awards ceremony included Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake, who received his sixth Athlete of the Year award in the football category. Additionally, Fraser McConnell and Sara Misir were recognized as the male and female Athletes of the Year in the motorsports category.
