The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries has announced its roster of nominees for the 2024 National Sports Awards, showcasing the nation’s finest athletic talent across multiple disciplines. The awards ceremony is set to take place on March 15, 2025, marking a celebration of sporting excellence in the twin-island nation.
Leading the nominations in the Senior Sportsman category is cricket sensation Alzarri Joseph, alongside track star Cejhae Greene and sailing phenom Rocco Falcone. The category spans 12 nominees across diverse sports, from traditional cricket to emerging disciplines like fencing, represented by Dante Browne.
Others in the aforementioned list are Daren Benta (Softball Cricket), Noah St. Clair (Rifle), Dante Browne (Fencing), Marlon George (Golf), Tony Phillip (Bodybuilding), Raheem Deterville (Football), Yashid Auguiste (Volleyball), Xavier Meade (Basketball and Jadon Wuilliez (Swimming),
In the Senior Sportswoman category, bodybuilding’s Kimberley Percival heads a competitive field of eleven nominees. The category demonstrates the nation’s growing female participation in sports, with representatives from cricket, sailing, bodybuilding, and football among others.
The Senior Sportswoman category features ten other exceptional athletes: Joella Lloyd (Athletics), Bianca Mitchell (Swimming), Jewel Crump (Fencing), Junella King (Sailing), Josanne Lewis (Volleyball), Reyana Regis (Netball), Amanda Edwards (Cricket), Alexandria Hunte (Golf), Makada Samuel-Hector (Softball Cricket), and Iressica Allen (Football).
The future of Antigua and Barbuda sports is represented in the Junior categories. The Junior Sportsman nominees are Craig Massiah (Basketball), Khaliq Joseph (Volleyball), Tahje Browne (Cycling), Maliek Francis (Athletics), Jewel Andrew (Cricket), Elite Thomas (Triathlon), Tivon Benjamin (Swimming), Joel Crawford (Fencing), Shanoy Malone (Sailing), and Marquise George (Golf).
In the Junior Sportswoman category, the nominees are Tyra Fenton (Athletics), Jenah Andrew (Basketball), Ellie Shaw (Swimming), Daena Bird (Fencing), Emily Gaillard (Sailing), Keitonya Skepple (Football), Jassania Joseph (Volleyball), Kimberly Anthony (Cricket), Stute Kashyap (Table Tennis), and Akevia Warner (Golf).
Moreover, in the Coach of the Year category, nine outstanding mentors are recognized. They are Oswald Baptiste (Athletics), Ollyn Martin (Bodybuilding), Timothy Thomas (Triathlon), Nelson Molino Fojo (Swimming), Schyan Jeffers (Football), Carl Williams (Volleyball), George Hughes (Basketball), St. Clair Williams (Cycling), and Pernel Watley (Cricket).
In the Mind Sports category, four competitors have been nominated with Bernard Joseph (Draughts), Glenford George (Domino), Natalee Heron (Domino), and Abner Farquhar (Chess) being named.
The Sports Official category will see acknowledgement of seven dedicated individuals with nominees being T Jamille Nelson (Athletics), Alvin Jarvis (Basketball), Dwayne Edwards (Bodybuilding), Michael Hamilton (Volleyball), Ken Pennyfather (Football), Niko Antonio (Drag Racing), and Melissa Lawrie (Cricket).
A total of nine persons were nominated from the Sports Administration Recognition category which comprises of Elvis Cordice (Draughts), Lisa Abraham (Drag Racing), Dane Gustave (Cricket), Inga Francis (Basketball), Beverly Percival-Tonge (Bodybuilding), Ken Warner (Swimming), Ileathea Cabral (Fencing), Wilbur Harrigan (Volleyball), and Matthew Bailey (Chess).
This year’s Lifetime Recognition award will honor Steve Williams for his contributions to bodybuilding.
The selection process will involve an esteemed panel of judges who will evaluate the nominees based on their achievements in regional and international competitions. The ministry has emphasized that all submissions will undergo independent verification to ensure accuracy and fairness in the selection process. The Ministry has established a rigorous verification process to ensure all achievements are accurately represented and validated.
The upcoming ceremony promises to be a landmark event in the nation’s sporting calendar, celebrating not only the athletes’ achievements but also the dedication of coaches, officials, and administrators who contribute to the development of sports in Antigua and Barbuda.
