THE University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona topped the Jamaica Intercollegiate Sports Association 53rd Awards Ceremony held at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts on Thursday evening.

The UWI copped nine awards, including National Athlete of the Year. Mico University College followed with seven as former kin-pins University of Technology and GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sports ended with five each.

Guest speaker at the function, minister with responsibility for Sport Natalie Neita-Headley, commended the student athletes on their performance and achievement, citing particularly their performance at the last two World University Games.

“As the programmes and events are improved and streamlined, more and more talented athletes will be unearthed and will be able to progress to national representation from the intercol system. This will certainly include athletes at the Olympic, World Youth and World Championship levels in a plethora of sporting disciplines,” she said in her address.

In the last two World University Games, first in Shenzen, China, in 2011 and then Kazan Russia in 2013, Jamaica won a combined six gold, three silver and four bronze medals. These athletes are in line, or have already been, selected for Senior National representation.

Our universities and colleges are playing an even bigger role off the field of play. You are preparing our athletes to deal with much of what will come with their success and what will come after they have retired from active competition,” Neita-Headley continued.

“In all of this, you have not lost sight of the fact that these are student athletes and you are increasing the numbers who graduate with degrees which will help them earn and pay their taxes from their earnings, long after they have left the field of play,” she added.

Other notable awardees on the night were Valdimir Wallace who received the President’s Award for excellence, while Fredrick Dacres (UWI) was named the top local male intercollegiate Athlete of the Year. Dacres won the discus at the Intercollegiate Championship and has a world-leading 66.71 metres throw earlier this year, while senior netballer Vangelee Williams of Mico University College was awarded the female equivalent.

Chad Wright and Salcia Slack were named the Intercollegiate International Male and Female Athletes of the Year.