Posted by NASSAU, Bahamas: World record holder in the high jump, Cuban Javier Sotomayor and Jamaica’s 2009 World 100m hurdles Champion Brigitte Foster-Hilton were the track & field winners at Friday night’s Caribbean Awards Sports Icons (CASI) ceremony, held at the prestigious, Breezes Hotel.
Sotomayer, who broke the men’s high jump record several times before stopping at 2.45m, was given the award over World and Olympics triple gold medalist Usain Bolt, who also holds three world records (100m 9.58, 200m 19.19, 4×100m 37.10).
Troy Kemp from The Bahamas, Wendell Motley and Haseley Crawford from Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaicans Lennox Miller, Donald Quarrie, and George Rhoden, were also in the field.
On the female side, Foster-Hylton, who won Jamaica’s first ever World Championships 100m hurdles gold medal, took the award over her compatriot, World and Olympic 100m Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser – the youngest nominee – Merlene Ottey and World and Olympic 400m gold medalist Tonique Williams-Darling.
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie from The Bahamas, and Ana Fedelia Quirot were also nominated for the award.
President of Jamaica’s Olympic Association (JOA), Mike Fennell was given the Administration Award. Fennell is also the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The awards show is designed to honor top athletes from around the region who have enhanced the Caribbean by rising above the disadvantages of their time, and are seen as world-class athletes going as far back as the 1940’s.
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