Alfred receives multiple nominations; Ricketts, Stona also up for CANOC awards

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos:

Saint Lucia's golden girl Julien Alfred will feature prominently at the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Sports Awards on October 19.

The 23-year-old Alfred, St Lucia's first Olympic medallist and first gold medallist, is the only individual or team to have earned multiple nominations at the Sports Awards, which will honour the Caribbean's finest athletes, teams, and sports leaders.

The prestigious event will celebrate the region's sporting excellence, focusing on sustainability through the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sustainability Awards.

Alfred, the World Indoors 60 metres champion, Olympics 100 metres champion, and Wanda Diamond League 100m champion, headlines the five nominees for Female Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year, all from the sport of athletics.

The other nominees include Olympic 400 metres champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, Puerto-Rican sprint hurdler Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Shafiqua Maloney from St Vincent & the Grenadines and Jamaica's Shanieka Ricketts.

Alfred also received a nomination for the Caribbean Breakthrough Award, an accolade for athletes who have earned their first medal at a continental or international multi-sport competition.

The list includes fellow World Indoor champion and Olympic gold medallist Thea LaFond of Dominica, along with World Junior double medallist Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands, and boxers Junior Alcantara Reyes and Cristian Javier Pinales, both from the Dominican Republic.

The male nominees for Caribbean Sports Personality of the Year are Kyron McMaster (British Virgin Islands, athletics); Lindon Victor (Grenada, decathlon); Mijain Lopez Nunez (Cuba, wrestling); Jereem Richards (Trinidad & Tobago, athletics); Roje Stona (Jamaica, athletics); and Sebastian Rivera (Puerto Rico, wrestling).

The battle for Male Caribbean Team of the Year includes Barbados' Under-14 football team, Curacao's baseball team and the Dominican Republic's senior football team among the boys.

Meanwhile, the nominees for the girls include Barbados' triathlon team, the Dominican Republic's volleyball team, Puerto Rico's basketball team and the United States Virgin Islands' basketball team.

Anmar Goodridge-Boyce of Barbados is in line for the Caribbean Sports Media Award, along with nominees Sebastian Cyrus of St Vincent & the Grenadines and the Dominican Republic's Jesus Leonardo Reyes.

The Caribbean Distinguished Service Award will include individuals such as Sonia Fulford (football), the late Judy Simons (administration), Shane Cadogan (athlete advocacy), and Philip Spooner (administrator) for their dedication to advancing sports in the region.

A Caribbean Lifetime Achievement Quadrennial Award will be presented to an individual who has rendered exceptional national, regional, or international service, demonstrating transformational leadership.

Additionally, the Caribbean National Olympic Committee of the Year Award will recognise a National Olympic Committee for its outstanding contribution to the advancement of sports.

- CMC