Fraser-Pryce, Gayle tipped for top titles

World long jump champion Tajay Gayle and 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are the hot favourites for the top individual titles at Tonight’s RJRGLEANER National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards.

Fraser-Pryce, who is no stranger to the limelight, is expected to walk away with the Sportswoman of the Year award after her performances on the track. With a blistering time of 10.71 seconds in the women’s 100m final in Doha, she won an unprecedented fourth world title and became the oldest woman to do so, at age 32.

Nominated with Fraser-Pryce are Elaine Thompson Herah, last year's winner Alia Atkinson, Danielle Williams, Shericka Jackson, Natoya Goule, Rushell Clayton, Shanieka Ricketts and Danniel Thomas-Dodd.

On the male side, first time nominee Gayle is expected to mark his award nod with a victory after he leapt 8.69m to mine gold at the Doha World Championships. His staggering jump erased the long standing national record of 8.62m by James Beckford set in 1997 and placed him 10th overall on the all-time list.

He is nominated alongside last year’s recipient Fedrick Dacres, Traves Smikle, Yona Knight-Wisdom, and Christopher Binnie.

Gayle, 23, is also nominated for the People’s Choice ‘Performance of the Year’ but will be up against strong competition such as Fraser-Pryce’s ‘Lightning Speed’ run in the 100m finals, and Havana’s Solaun’s ‘Historic’ goal against the Australians at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

Shamar Nicholson’s goal against the US and Natoya Goule’s impressive win over 800m at the Pan America Games will also be in contention for the Performance of the Year award.

Tonight’s awards ceremony will be broadcast live on TVJ from The Jamaica Pegasus hotel starting at 8:30pm.

– Gregory Bryce