LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
IAN ALLEN, Staff Photographer -
Danny McFarlane (left) and Veronica Campbell smile as they pose with their trophies for winning the respective Carreras Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards for 2004.
DANNY MCFARLANE and Veronica Campbell capped their 2004 track seasons as Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the Carreras Sports Foundation awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Thursday night.
Campbell, the 200 metres and sprint relay gold medallist and 100 metres bronze medallist at the Athens Olympics, was the overwhelming favourite for 'Sports-woman of the Year'.
"It was quite an honour. I'm really happy and it means a lot to me," Campbell said gracefully.
McFarlane got the nod over Chris Gayle and Asafa Powell in the men's category. His Olympic 400 metres hurdles silver medal swayed the judges decision in his favour over Chris Gayle's great all-round performance with the West Indies cricket team and Powell's world No. 1 ranking in the 100 metres.
CONFIDENT
"Based on the criteria set out by Carreras I was confident I had a good chance of winning," McFarlane said, "... and I'm just really appreciative of all the love I've been getting from the country."
Both winners received $300,000 and a gold medallion.
Gayle and Aleen Bailey were the runners-up and they each received $150,000.
Bailey, who is a member of the gold medal 4x100 metres relay team, also won the prestigious Chairman's Award. Chairman of the Carreras Sports Foundation Michael Hall awarded Bailey for the great teamwork and leadership qualities she displayed during the Olympics.
"I feel very proud of myself right now," Bailey gushed. "The Chairman's Award was really a surprise. Just being nominated for Sportswoman of the Year was good enough."
SPECIAL GUESTS
Sprint legend Merlene Ottey and seven-time Sportsman of the Year, boxer Michael McCallum, were special guests at the ceremony.
Two sprint queens met at the podium in a symbolic exchange of reign when Ottey presented Campbell with her award.
"Merlene is my role model, I love her and I felt so happy she presented it to me," Campbell said.
Another special moment was boxer Glen Johnson collecting his category award from McCallum. Johnson had a knockout year in 2004 and was as bubbly as a child when he collected his plaque from 'The Bodysnatcher'.
Clifton Forbes, captain of Jamaica's 1968 Olympic team, paid special tribute to Olympian Lennox Miller who died in November. Miller won a silver medal in the 100 metres at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and bronze in 1972 in Munich, Germany. A past student of Kingston College, Miller died of cancer at age 58.
TRACK PIONEERS
In his address, guest speaker Michael Fennell reminisced on the path paved by our track pioneers.
"Let us think of 1948 when Jamaica was still a colony. We went to England for our first Olympics. We didn't have television or transistor radio but we had a fantastic group of men and women and can you imagine to everyone's shock and surprise when the late Arthur Wint won the 400 metres with Herb McKenley coming second, and Arthur Wint also coming second in the 800 metres. What a fantastic performance and what a fantastic start! And I feel that today our recent achievements owe a tremendous debt to those people who were the pioneers on the international scene."
AWARDS
Certificates of Merit - Ms. Carol Long
Capt. John Eyre
Special Awards - Usain Bolt Track & Field
Xavier Marshall Cricket
National Under-19 Team Cricket
National Under-20 Team Football
National Women's Team Volleyball
National Men's Team Volleyball
National Senior Team Netball
Tanto Campbell Paralympian
(bronze medal)
Alphanso Cunningham Paralympian
(gold medal)
4x400M Men - World Indoor Championships gold medal:- Sanjay Ayre, Davian Clarke, Richard James, Michael McDonald, Gregory Haughton and Leroy Colquhoun
4x400M Women - Olympic Games bronze medal:- Michelle Burgher, Nadia Davy, Sandie Richards, Ronetta Smith and Novelene Williams.
4x100M Women - Olympic Games gold medal:- Aleen Bailey, Veronica Campbell, Tayna Lawrence, Beverly McDonald and Sherone Simpson.
CATEGORY AWARDS
Danny McFarlane Athletics
Veronica Campbell Athletics
Charles Pyne Badminton
Nigella Saunders Badminton
Simone Edwards Basketball
Glen Johnson Boxing
Chris Gayle Cricket
Iona Wynter Cycling
Marlon King Football
Trevor Simpson Horse Racing
Ronald Brown Rifle Shooting
Dawn Kobayashi Rifle Shooting
Jevon Atkinson Swimming
Alia Atkinson Swimming
