media_artricles :: 2014

Gordon, Borel take top NAAA awards

World 400m hurdles champion Jehue Gordon was named the Top Male Athlete of the Year for 2013 by the National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) at the Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony at the Capital Plaza Ballroom, Port-of-Spain on Saturday.

Gordon was the overwhelming favourite to cop the award after his golden run in the one lap event at the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Moscow, Russia, on August 15.

The 22-year-old won in a national record and world leading time of 47.69. His victory was the second ever by a local athlete at the global meeting following Ato Boldon’s triumph in the men’s 200m at the 1997 World Champs in Athens, Greece. The UWI St Augustine student was also named the Top Male Track Athlete and was honoured for his record run of 47.69 seconds (29th on the all-time list). Gordon also recorded two victories on the prestigious Diamond league circuit. The NAAA honour is the latest for Gordon over the last week after he took home the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s Male Sports Personality of the Year Honour and Male Athlete, Consistent Performer and Breakthrough Performance of the Year at the Spirit of Sports Awards (SOSA).

Shot putter Borel took Female Athlete of the Year following her successful defence of her Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Championships in Morelia, Mexico with a distance of 17.56m and also competed at the World Championships. Borel also collected the Top Female Field Athlete of the Year.

CAC Senior men’s triple jump bronze medallist Christopher Hercules took the Top Male Field Athlete Trophy.

Double Carifta champion Mark London was named the top Male Junior athlete with Dominique Williams taking the female equivalent. London sped to victory in the boys under 20.800m (1:51.34) and 1500m (4:01.07) at the Carifta Games in the Bahamas and ran unbeaten among the juniors on the local scene. The Zenith athlete also notched wins at the Hampton Games, taking the men’s 800m/1500m double, the TnT Twilight and Alvin Daniel Games. Williams missed on medalling at the Carifta Games finishing fourth in the girls under 20 800m and fifth 400m at the Carifta Games. However, the Neon Trackers sprinter improved her times with victories in the 400m at the TnT Twilight Games. The San Juan Secondary graduate was a member of TT’s women’s 4x400m team which debuted at the World Championships. London and Williams were also voted the Top Junior Track Athletes of the Year.

Carifta boys under 20 shot put champion Hezekiel Romeo was named the Top Junior Male Field Athlete. Romeo took the gold in the Bahamas with an effort of 18.66m. The Rebirth thrower also established a new national junior mark with the men’s implement (7.26kg) of 17.32m. Shaunna Downey (Burnley) took the Junior Female Field title with her Carifta bronze medal throw in the girls under 20 discus.

Awards

Under 9: Kiana Llewellyn (Cougars) and Elijah John (Cougars)

Under 11: Shaniqua Bascombe (Cougars) and Devin Augustine (Pt. Fortin New Jets)

Under 13: Shaniece Francois (Neon Trackers) and Timothy Frederick (Pt Fortin New Jets)

Under 15: Track-Jenea Spinks (Neon Trackers) and Adel Colthrust (Southern Athletics); Field-Peaches Stewart (Falcons) and Tyriq Horsford (Zenith)

Under 17: Track-Jeminse Parris (Memphis) and Kadeem Campbell (Memphis); Field-Chelsea James (Falcons) and Andwuelle Wright (Signal Hill Sec)

Under 20: Track-Dominique Williams (Neon Trackers) and Mark London (Zenith); Field-Shaunna Downey (Burnley) and Hezekiel Romeo (Rebirth)

Open: Track-Michelle-Lee Ahye (Rebirth) and Jehue Gordon (Memphis); Field-Cleopatra Borel (Rebirth) and Christopher Hercules (Memphis)

Road Running: Tonya Nero and Richard Jones

Cross-Country: Janelle Nedd and Kendis Bullard

Champion Club: Juvenile-Cougars; Junior-Memphis, Senior-Memphis

Junior Female Athlete of the Year-Dominique Williams

Junior Male Athlete of the Year-Mark London

Female Athlete of the Year-Cleopatra Borel

Male Athlete of the Year -Jehue Gordon

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