DESPITE intriguing competition in both categories, discus thrower Fedrick Dacres and swimmer Alia Atkinson appear early favourites to take the respective top prizes at the 2018 RJR Gleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year awards to be hosted next January.

Dacres, 24, enjoyed a number of major achievements in 2018, including winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Australia with an event record throw of 68.20 metres.

He secured the discus diamond in the Diamond League final in Belgium with 68.67m. He has the second best throw of 2018, an effort of 69.67m in Sweden that made him Jamaica’s record holder in the discipline. Dacres also won gold at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Championships in Canada.

Challengers to Dacres are squash player Christopher Binnie, shot put thrower O’Dayne Richards and sprint hurdler Ronald Levy.

The 29-year-old Atkinson, the reigning sportswoman of the year, has also been outstanding in 2018 — one of the highlights being the silver medal accomplishment in the 50m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

She also lowered her short course world record in the 50m breaststroke to 28.56 seconds at a FINA Swimming World Cup event in Hungary. Atkinson was dominant at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Colombia, establishing games records in two events, while taking home three gold medals.

Atkinson has fierce competition from 26-year-old shot putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd, who threw 19.36m to capture gold at the Commonwealth Games. She was also the second best indoor shot put thrower with 19.22m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in England where she won silver.

They are joined by six contenders — footballer Khadija Shaw, cricketer Stafanie Taylor, 3000m steeplechase specialist Aisha Praught-Leer, 400m hurdler Janieve Russell and triple jumpers Kimberly Williams and Shanieka Ricketts.

RJR Gleaner Sports Foundation, responsible for organising the awards, annually honour outstanding achievements in sport by Jamaican athletes, by nominating a maximum of 10 individuals of each gender for consideration.

Michael Fennell, the chairman of the selection committee, acknowledged the tighter race on the women’s side.

“[Regarding] the nominees, we would love to have had more men [selected], but following the criteria we felt that only those four to date have reached the standard where they could be nominated.

“That’s how it is some years and certainly in other years where you have World Championships in Athletics and Olympics years, it broadens the scope,” he told the Jamaica Observer during yesterday’s launch of the awards at Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Former quarter-mile hurdler Deon Hemmings-McCatty, Jamaica’s first-ever woman to win Olympic Games gold when she claimed the 400m hurdles event in 1996 in the United States (Atlanta), was announced yesterday as a new member of the selection committee.

“I’m honoured, and it’s a privilege that they’ve selected me. I’m here to give back and to serve wherever possible. I’ll do my best along with the other committee members,” said Hemmings-McCatty, who was 1996 and 2000 sportswoman of the year.

She is comfortable with the nominees compiled.

“It took a little while, but after a long deliberation we were able to choose the best and most competent persons, and I think we’ve done a good job so far,” she said.

Gary Allen, the chairman of the RJR Gleaner Sports Foundation, responsible for organising the awards, is pleased with the growth over the years.

“We’re heading into our 12th staging of the event. When we look back at it we have actually moved the event… to what is now a nationally televised event with coverage outside of Jamaica as well an on cable and streaming media.

“We are grateful for the sponsorship we continue to get, and our corporate sponsors really help to make it happen. This is something that we spend upward of $10 million each year and I think we are satisfied that it’s value for money,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Allen stressed the importance of recognising athletes who excelled on the global stage and have made their country proud.

“It’s good when you get recognition internationally, but there is a special feeling when you are recognised by your own people, and that is our main calling. We are committed to making sure that excellence is always recognised,” he explained.

The awards show is scheduled to be held on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Jamaica Pegasus.

Allen said the organisers have broadened the categories that are recognised while, in the main, consolidating the awards’ elite status.

Some other notable categories include respective outstanding schoolboy and schoolgirl awards; the chairman’s award; and the people’s choice award.