2011 sports awards - VCB safe again, Bolt or Blake for men's title

 André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Veronica Campbell-Brown looks set to walk away with her fourth RJR Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the year award in the last six years, while the Sportsman of the Year award will trigger another Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake showdown at tonight's ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus.

Campbell-Brown, the 200m gold and 100m silver medallist from last year's IAAF World Champion-ships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, seems a safe bet to claim her second straight Sportswoman of the Year award.

However, if there is a gamble to be taken, ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year and the number one ranked all-rounder Stafanie Taylor could prove a spoiler.

Other female nominees include WBC Junior Featherweight champion Alicia Ashley, Pan American Games 200m individual medley silver medallist Alia Atkinson, 400m hurdles Diamond League winner Kaliese Spencer, and World Championships 400m hurdles silver medallist Melaine Walker.

Like they have been doing all off season, training partners Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake will once again square off for top honours, with the 200m World Champion Bolt seen by many as the favourite to claim his third title in four years.

Unbeaten

In addition to finishing last season unbeaten, Bolt, the IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, also registered the fastest time in the 100m, 9.76, bettering the previous best, which was registered by countryman and fellow nominee Asafa Powell, the Diamond League 100m champion.

Blake, who won gold in the 100m at the World Championships, returned a few weeks later to post the second-fastest 200m time in history, 19.26, threatening the 19.19 world record established in 2009 by Bolt.

Cricketer Marlon Samuels, who scored over 600 runs in regional first-class competition, Powell, Lerone Clarke, the Pan American Games 100m champion and boxer Nicholas Walters.

Cricketer Chris Gayle won last year's Sportsman of the Year title.