– ‘Hooper’ sisters, Winston George also winners

THERE were no surprises or feelings of disappointment on Saturday evening when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted its annual awards ceremony at the Umana Yana to honour the country’s top youth, junior and senior male and female athletes and coaches.

Winston George, the country’s 400M record holder and 2017 South American Games gold medallist, was named the Senior Male Athlete-of-the-Year. Troy Doris, the US-based triple jumper picked up the runner-up accolade.

University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) student, Natrena Hooper was named the senior Female Athlete-of-the-Year for her several good showing competing in the High Jump, while Tenesha Cort, the national Javelin record holder, finished second.

Meanwhile, it came as no surprise that Linden would dominate the youth and junior categories, taking into consideration that the fastest athletes in the 100, 200 and 400 metres, as well as in the high jump, long jump and triple jump, all came from Linden.

Compton Caesar, who won Guyana’s first ever 100M Gold at CARIFTA Games, won the Junior Male Athlete-of-the-Year award. Anfernee Headecker, Silver Medallist in the 1500M at last year’s CARIFTA Games, finished behind Caesar.

CARIFTA Games Triple-Jump Gold Medallist Natricia Hooper (Natrena’s younger sister), edged Linden’s Onassha Roger for the Junior Female Athlete-of-the-Year title.

Daniel Williams, the IAAF World U-18 400M silver medallist and South American Youth record holder (400M: 46.72 seconds) was a no-brainer for the Male Youth Athlete-of-the-Year award, while emerging sprinter Jermaine King (South American Youth Games silver medallist) was runner-up.

Chantoba Bright who had a sensational year in the pits, competing in the long and triple jumps, won the Female Athlete-of-the-Year award, while Monroe College’s middle-distance athlete, Claudrice McKoy tied with Kenisha Phillips for second place, behind the Lindener.

Linden’s Johnny Greavesande, the coach of Bright and Williams, maintained his Coach-of-the-Year title, while the President’s Award went to another Lindener, Moses Pantlitz, coach of Rogers, Caesar and Deshanna Skeete.