Bolt & Fraser-Pryce receive Golden Cleats award

IAAF Male and Female Athletes of the Year Usain bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have been named the Scotia Group/Jamaica Administrative Athletic Association Golden Cleats Athletes of the Year at a function at the Tera Nova Hotel in Kingston.

Bolt and Fraser-Pryce had earlier this year created history by becoming the first Jamaican pair to win simultaneous IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards at last month’s Grand Gala in Monaco.

Bolt captured the sprint double at the Moscow Games and was also a member of the 4×100 meters relay team that struck gold and was also unbeaten throughout the season.

Fraser-Pryce meanwhile also took the sprint double while being a part of the quartet that struck gold in the female 4×100 meters relay in Moscow.

While Bolt was not around to collect his award, Fraser-Pryce took the opportunity to highlight the exploits of the young standouts.

“2014 was an extraordinary year for our athletes. It saw us winning many medals at the junior and senior levels and it goes to show that the future of track and field in Jamaica is bright. I will be looking forward to an extraordinary year with these young athletes as they continue to dominate,” said Fraser-Pryce, in reference to the likes of IAAF World Youth stars Bryan, Thompson, Michael O’Hara, Jaheel Hyde, Martin Manley and Marvin Williams, who helped Jamaica to a historic table-topping performance at the championships held in Donetsk, Ukraine, earlier this year.

She noted: “It’s good for them to understand that hard work and perseverance and also having the right mindset when it comes to your education and having both in terms of becoming future champions on and off the track.”

Meanwhile Yanique Thompson of Holmwood Technical collected the Junior Athlete of the Year award and was also presented with the Howard Aris Award Scholarship following her World Youth best 12.94 seconds, gold-medal winning 100m hurdles performance in Ukraine.

Wolmer’s Boys high jumper Kristoff Bryan was the male recipient of the Howard Aris Scholarship which is valued at $250.000 after claiming bronze at the World Youth Championships. The 6^th form student has passes in eight subjects and harbours hopes of becoming a physiotherapist.

The World Youth team that became the first Jamaican team to top a global athletic championship was highlighted and honoured.

Racers Track Club head coach Glen Mills was once again named Coach of the Year.

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