USAIN Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce walked away with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/ Scotiabank Golden Cleats Male and Female Athletes of the Year Awards at the Chinese Benevolent Centre on Saturday.

Bolt won three gold medals at the IAAF World Athletics Championships held in Beijing, China, in August, retaining his 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles. It was the third time he was winning the triple at the World Championships, having previously done so in 2009 and 2013.

Bolt’s success came against the backdrop of a season hampered by injuries and lack of competition, but still he rose to the big occasion and delivered in style.

Fraser-Pryce won two gold medals at the World Championships, which was her third, having won in 2009 and 2013. She anchored Jamaica’s 4x100m relay to gold in Championship record of 41.07 seconds. She also was the 100m Diamond League champion, winning a perfect four from four races.

Stephen Francis copped the Coach of the Year prize as several of his MVP athletes contributed to Jamaica’s global success throughout the year and in particular, the World Championship.

He had under his wings, the 100m champion Fraser-Pryce; the 200m silver medallist Elaine Thompson; the 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson and shot put bronze medal winner Odayne Richards. The Francis camp also provided three members of Jamaica’s 4x400m relay gold medal-winning team, namely Jackson, Christine Day and Stephanie McPherson.

The Women’s 4x400m World Championship gold medal relay team won the Scotia Golden Cleats Performance of the Year Award, which is a new category.

Young and promising thrower Demar Gayle won the Howard Aris Award for his outstanding performance at shot put and discus at Boys Championships, Carifta Games and Pan Am Juniors.

Calabar High’s Christopher Taylor won Best Youth Performance of the Year for his age-group world record in the 400m of 45.27 in winning the gold at the World Youth Championship.

Scotiabank presented two scholarships worth $250,000 to the respective top female and male in track and field and academics to Shanice Love of Excelsior High and Jamaica College’s Clayton Brown.

Lissant Mitchell, Scotia Investment’s CEO, said it is always an honour getting an opportunity to interface with some of the world’s top performers.

“This is a privilege not many can claim. We are so proud of our athletes who represent well on so many levels. You have managed to enhance the profile of Jamaica across the world,” said Mitchell.

He continued: “In track and field Jamaica has consistently demonstrated our abilities, in part due to the emphasis placed on developing our young athletes through great programmes in schools, and the ultimate display at Champs. Scotiabank is no stranger to supporting sports, from events like cricket, football, netball and cycling, and we have been particularly focused on developmental areas that directly impact our youth.”

“We have been sponsors of Kiddy Cricket across the Caribbean, and this year celebrated our 15th anniversary. We work closely with Netball Jamaica, especially with the under-16 netballers and the development of junior umpires. And in the inner city we have developed a robust cycling programme, all because we recognise the importance of support at this level,” Mitchell noted.

— Howard Walker