ROSE HALL, St James — Eleven student athletes from western Jamaica were recognised Thursday for excellence in their fields as the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards entered its second year.

The event, held at Montego Bay Convention Centre, earned kudos from Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) President Keith Wellington.

“I am really excited.

I think that when the community recognises its heroes, it’s always good — and particularly for young people,” Wellington told the Jamaica Observer.

“When the adults, and the commercial entities, and all the other responsible persons in the community identify young persons doing positive things and recognise them, it is not just for the person being recognised but it is for all the young persons around who are able to recognise that being positive, doing good things is something of value,” Wellington added.

Among those honoured Thursday was William Knibb Memorial High School standout Jabari Matheson, who copped the award for outstanding male Student.

This year’s recipients of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards gather for a photo during a ceremony at Montego Bay Convention Centre on Thursday.

President of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), Keith Wellington (left) chats with businessman Yoni Epstein who was guest speaker at Thursday’s Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards.

William Knibb Memorial High School standout Jabari Matheson copped the award for outstanding male student while Shreya Gulawani, an up-and-coming swim star from Mount Alvernia High School, was named outstanding female student.

Sprint sensation Shanoya Douglas (second left) and Suraj Gulawani, last year’s outstanding athletes, are flanked by Winston Harrison and Ashley Anguin, vice-chair and chair, respectively, of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards, after being appointed event ambassadors on Thursday.

“I feel great, knowing that I am coming from a very difficult situation.

Last year I didn’t get to compete because I had a broken foot,” he told the Observer.

Matheson, who has excelled in the 400 metres at the junior level, played a significant role in William Knibb’s top-10 finish at this year’s staging of the Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

“I started back training, started running again — basically started over.

Getting this award, it makes me feel special knowing that I am being recognised,” he said.

As the top male student athlete Matheson received a trophy and a cash incentive of $100,000.

On the girls’ side, the top student was Shreya Gulawani, an up-and-coming swim star from Mount Alvernia High School.

She follows in the footsteps of her twin brother, Suraj, who was named outstanding male student at the inaugural event last year.

“That is our journey, our legacy, because we are both swimmers.

It’s going to continue because we work very hard and it pays off.

I am very proud of the both of us,” she said.

During Thursday’s event Suraj and star junior sprinter and recipient of last year’s Outstanding Female Student award, Shanoya Douglas, were appointed the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards’ first ambassadors.

Douglas was also the recipient of the Jamaica Observer Sporting Excellence Award.

“I feel so proud, so elated — I can’t even put it into words — but know that I am happy and always grateful for recognition and everything that Jamaica has recognised me for in terms of my hard work,” Douglas said.

The impressive student athletes have excelled in disciplines including track and field, swimming, netball and football.

For ISSA’s Wellington, the day took on added significance as his son, Malik, was recognised for his achievements as a footballer, having risen to the junior level as a national player.

“I am happy for him.

I know that he is a great kid, he works really well, and he has been outstanding,” Wellington said proudly.

Conceptualiser and chair of the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run Champions of the West Awards Ashley Anguin said the initiative demonstrates the impact student athletes from western Jamaica are having.

“Last year we selected 10, but because of all the achievements we decided that the talent was just too much to overlook so we selected 11 [this year].

We’re highlighting student athletes from western Jamaica who may not be really recognised but they are doing a fantastic job,” she explained.

The event is funded through sponsorship and proceeds from the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run, which has raised more than $45 million since its inception 10 years ago.

Named in honour of Jill Stewart, the late wife of Adam Stewart, executive chairman of the Sandals Group and the Jamaica Observer, the initiative has provided support to numerous students over the past decade.