‘Champions of the West’ rewarded for sporting prowess

After being crowned with the top 'Sports Boy of the Year' award for the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run (JSMCR) Champions of the West (COTW), Suraj Guwalani expressed the significance of recognising student-athletes from the West.

Ten student athletes were recognised for their outstanding achievements, and shining as a rising star in sport, during the inaugural awards ceremony at Montego Bay Convention Centre on Tuesday.

Guwalani, from Herbert Morrison Technical High, and Shanoya Douglas from Holland High, walked away with $100,000 each, along with the JSCMR COTW/Montego Bay Convention Centre Champion Boy Trophy, and JSCMR COTW/WATA Champion of the West Girls Trophy, respectively.

"For our swimmers in the west, this recognition is a reminder that we are not forgotten," said Guwalani.

"An event like this is very significant, and there is a need for it to continue. It's a motivation for all athletes, and we need this," he added.

Guwalani, who is the SailFish Swim Academy Open champion and bronze medallist at the Carifta Swimming Championships, is arguably the most accomplished young swimmer in western Jamaica. Additionally, he is an outstanding student leader at his school.

PROPER FACILITY

According to Guwalani, there is need for the development of a proper sporting facility for western Jamaica that includes a 50-metre swimming pool.

"Our western stakeholders are knowledgeable of the work being done by the athletes and the need for greater support from western Jamaica," he said.

Seeing himself as an inspiration, the 15-year-old swimmer said the award is impactful for young athletes.

"Our athletes needed this encouragement at this time, and I am thankful to the organisers for seeing the need to recognise our own athletes from the west," he stated. "Not only am I honoured, but I am also motivated to continue in my swimming pursuits.

"I am sure, too, others are encouraged," Guwalani said, noting that with every sport it takes discipline to achieve success.

Douglas, the Top Sports Girl of the Year from Holland High, said she is elated to have been recognised.

"At every rocky road there is a smooth road at the end. I am excited, honoured and would encourage the other young athletes to continue working hard."

MOST PROMISING

Douglas, who recently transferred from Muschett High School based in Trelawny, is one of the most promising female junior athletes in Jamaica, based on her exploits on the world stage, the Carifta Games, and the ISSA Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, where she won the Class Two 100m and 200m earlier this year.

The other eight contenders who made the shortlist received trophies and $50,000 each. They were: D'Aire Patterson, Herbert Morrison High School's exciting basketballer; Sanjay Seymour, national Under -20 200m champion; Carlyle Tingling, Cornwall College's outstanding goalkeeper, who is also excelling in basketball and track and field; Damien Daley, Cornwall College's star batsman and captain; Ajani Williams, a former track and field star at Irwin High School, who is now a student at GC Foster College; Jade Fearon of Mt Alvernia High School, who is the number-one ranked Under-14 tennis player in Jamaica; Giana Murray, Mt Alvernia's exciting female track star who represented well at the Penn Relays; and Kayden Brown of William Knibb High School, captain of her school's track team and a gold medal winner at the annual Western Athletics Championship.

For Winston Harris, committee member of JSMCR COTW, the future legends show the importance of why proper facilities are needed to enhance sport in the west.

"The talent they display without a proper facility speaks volumes. Let us not wait for the student-athletes in the west to blow up globally, but to give them their flowers while they bloom locally," said Harris.