KINGSTON, Jamaica – The dazzling stars of Jamaican sports will shine Friday night as the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards Gala takes center stage at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
This illustrious event, a hallmark of the nation’s sporting calendar, promises to honor the phenomenal achievements of 2024’s standout athletes.
Men’s category – Stona leads stellar line-up
The men’s competition is fiercely contested, with Roje Stona, Jamaica’s reigning Olympic discus champion, standing as the favorite. Stona’s awe-inspiring throw of 70 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics not only earned him Jamaica’s sole gold medal but also shattered the Olympic record previously held by Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna. His historic win marked the first Jamaican gold medal in a throwing event, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer.
Challenging Stona is sprint prodigy Kishane Thompson, whose electrifying speed earned him a silver medal in the 100m final at the Paris Games. Thompson clocked a personal best of 9.77 seconds, the fastest time globally in 2024, which vaulted him into the ranks of the 10 fastest men of all time.
Other nominees include Rasheed Broadbell, a bronze medalist in the 110m hurdles; Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod, who secured silver and competed valiantly in the long jump; Rajindra Campbell, who claimed a shot put bronze.
Sprinters Ackeem Blake and Rusheen McDonald, who round out the formidable eight-man list.
Women’s category – a tight race for the crown
The battle for the Sportswoman of the Year Award promises to be equally riveting, with five remarkable contenders in the spotlight. The field is dominated by track and field athletes, complemented by a ground-breaking cyclist.
Ackera Nugent, the sprint hurdler, turned personal disappointment at the Paris Games into a stunning resurgence. She obliterated Jamaica’s national 100m hurdles record twice in 2024, first clocking 12.28 seconds, then an even more sensational 12.24 seconds in August.
In the triple jump, Shanieka Ricketts soared to silver at the Olympics with a leap of 14.87m, capturing her first Olympic medal and strengthening her case for the award.
Cyclist Llori Sharpe, the sole non-track nominee, etched her name in history as the first Jamaican woman to claim gold in the Elite Women’s Road Race at the 2024 Caribbean Cycling Championships, showcasing versatility in the nation’s athletic prowess.
Also vying for the honor are Rushell Clayton, the accomplished 400m hurdler, and Nickisha Pryce, whose stellar 400m performances lit up the track.
With the ceremony set to kick off at 8:30 p.m., the gala promises to be a grand celebration of athletic distinction, inspiring future generations to reach for greatness.
