YOUNG cyclist Quincy Alexander was voted the Emerging Athlete of the Year yesterday at a launch of the Spirit of Sports Awards at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain.
Alexander, a Junior Pan Am gold medallist in the Match Sprint and number #1 ranked cyclist in the sprint, got the better of a number of other outstanding athletes including female sprint star Michelle Lee Ahye and cricketer Felicia Walters.
However, fans will have to wait until December 28 at the same venue when athletes and media reporters will be highlighted for their outstanding contribution towards the growth and development of sports in TT.
Winners of different categories will be named such as Male Athlete for 2011. Nominees include batsman Darren Bravo, cyclist Njisane Phillips, sprinter Richard Thompson and sharp shooter Roger Daniel.
The Female category is being led by sprinter Kelly Ann Baptiste and includes golfer Monifa Sealy, cricketer Anisa Mohammed and tennis ace Breanni Stampfli.
The gala function will be hosted by TT’s quadruple Olympic medallist Ato Boldon.
Also among the awardees yesterday were Matura United Football Club which received the Community Team award for 2011. They beat out strong challenges by FC Santa Rosa Under-15 team and Manta Ray Swim Club while Airbon Sonics’ athletic coach Earl Eton Carvor Bourne was the recipient of the Community Coach award.
Bourne got the edge from Terrance Boissiere of the Marabella Family Crisis Football Club and former national footballer Ulric Buggy Haynes. Ronald Rogers, trainer of the TT cricket team, was given the award for the Sports Technical Team while Judith Ann Robertson-Daniel was adjudged the best Sports Educator.
Meanwhile, Shiva Boys’ Hindu College won Best Performing School. They got the better of Toco Secondary and Santa Flora Government Primary School.
Minister of Sport Anil Roberts congratulated the award recipients and nominees and believes organising community sports plays an important role in the development of sports in TT.
By Walter Alibey
Source: www.newsday.co.tt