KYLE JACK (football) and Caliyah Wallace (track and field) were named as the respective Male and Female Youth Champions, at yesterday’s Atlantic YES (Youth Excellence in Sports) Awards, which took place at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
The 13-year-old Jack got the judges’ nod, ahead of Narad Kissoondath (cricket), Tyrese James (track and field), Kadon Williams (swimming) and Troy Llanos (triathlon), to claim the male crown.
And, in the female equivalent, 13-year-old Wallace walked away with the title, as she overcame the challenges of Diamond Arthur (football), Kelicia Ramchandar (cricket), Gabrielle Vickles (swimming) and Breanna Ramirez (triathlon).
Four other major awards were distributed during the morning’s ceremony.
Bon Accord Government Primary School (football) won the Team of the Year, defeating the challenges of Preysal Government Primary (cricket), Port of Spain and Environs (track and field), Bishop Anstey Junior (swimming) and Dunross Preparatory (triathlon).
In the Coach of the Year category, Robert Mahabir (cricket) copped the trophy, with Kelvin Nancoo (track and field), Kellie Lawrence (swimming) and Angelo Clark (triathlon) the other nominees.
Karen Araujo, who is also the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Triathlon Federation (TTTF), was adjudged as the Administrator of the Year, getting the better of Nancoo (football), Brent Francis (cricket) and Alafia Branker-Baptiste (swimming).
There was also a category for Fair Play, with Terrence Caesar (football) claiming the award, with Whim AC Primary School (cricket) and Bishop Anstey Junior (triathlon) the beaten challengers.
The soft-spoken Jack, a Standard Five student of Bon Accord Government Primary School, commented, “I feel good that I made the whole of Tobago proud.” The team striker, who described last season as good, admitted that he admires Portugal and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. “He’s the best player in the world,” Jack said.
The Canaan resident related that the support of his family has been instrumental in his success thus far. Another 13-year-old, Wallace, admitted, “I feel excited.
I was a bit scared but I’m happy.” She added, “I feel relieved because I was scared (about not getting the award).” A First Form student at St Francois Girls College in Belmont, Wallace trains with Cougars club and specialises in 100-metre and 200-metre sprints.
Concerning her aim in the sport, Wallace noted, “Olympics.
I want to go to the Olympics.” The resident of Diego Martin described the support she gets from her family as good.
“My family is always coming and supporting me, my mummy and my daddy, my aunty and (everybody else),” she said.
Education Minister Anthony Garcia delivered the feature address while Atlantic Sports Ambassadors George Bovell III, Sunil Narine and Merissa Aguilleira were in attendance, along wiith Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis, SPORTT (Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago) chairman Michael Phillips, and former TT and West Indies cricketer and administrator Deryck Murray.