Sands And Ferguson-McKenzie Top Athletes For 2008

By Gerrino Saunders

Olympic triple jump bronze medalist Levan ‘Superman’ Sands and sprinter Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie were named the male and female athlete of the year at The Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations (BAAA) end-of-year awards banquet and ceremony held December 27th at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort on Cable Beach.
Local junior track and field stars high jumper Raymond Higgs and sprinter Sheniqua Ferguson were tagged as the top junior athletes for 2008.
In all four divisions for top athlete award, the federation had a difficult time selecting the final athlete.
This year for the first time top sports reporters from the local media houses were included in the selection process.

Sands beat out strong contenders Chris Brown who was fourth in the open men’s 400m and who won silver in the 4x400m relay. Another strong contender for the top honour, was Andretti Bain who won the indoor and outdoor NCAA 400m titles in 2008.

Hurdler Shamar Sands set a new Bahamian record in the 110m hurdles and also received recognition for his efforts, breaking a record that was held by Danny Stubbs and which stood for more than 20 years

Ferguson-McKenzie faced competition for top honors from sprinter Chandra Sturrup, quarter-miler Christine Amertil and long jumper Bianca Stuart.

In the junior division Ferguson won gold in the 200m and bronze in the 100m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland. Sprinters V’Alonee Robinson and Nivea Smith were also nominated for the title.

Higgs upset the World Champion Donald Thomas to win the high jump competition at the 2008 National Championship. Higgs also advanced to the finals of the high jump event at the IAAF World Junior Championships.

Junior hurdlers Nejemi Burnside and Aaron Wilmore were also nominated for the title after their stellar performances at the Carifta Games.

The ‘Top Coach’ award for 2008 went to Henry Rolle who is the coach of “Superman” Sands and an assistant coach at Auburn University in Alabama. Official of the Year went to Mabelene Miller.
This year’s awards ceremony was held under the distinguished patronage of legendary sailor Sir Durward 'Sea Wolf' Knowles who won The Bahamas its first Olympic medal after taking bronze in the sailing competition at the 1956 Melbourne Games in Australia. In 1964 Knowles won gold in the Star Class at the Tokyo Games.
BAAA public relations officer Kermit Taylor said the federation was honoured to pay tribute to Sir Durward especially with this year marking the 60th year from when he first competed at the Olympics.
The 2008 season was very successful for the BAAA that saw national teams add two more Olympic medals to the country’s total as well as another medal at the World Indoor Championships.