Jereem Richards, Michelle-Lee Ahye crowned ‘Athletes of the Year’ at NAAATT

Michelle-Lee Ahye and Jereem Richards were crowned “Athletes of the Year” for 2023 at the National Association of Athletics Administration of T&T (NAAATT) during its annual awards ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in Port of Spain.

Ahye received the women’s “Athlete of the Year” award after winning bronze in the women’s 100 m at the Pan American Games, which was held in Santiago, Chile, on October 31, 2023.

Moreover, she was awarded a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and Ahye also won the top women’s title in 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2013.

It is to be noted that neither Richards nor Ahye was present at the awards ceremony to collect their awards. However, Jereem, while speaking to the media, stated that he is overwhelmed to be named the Male Athlete of the Year.

“I had a great 2023 season, being able to achieve most of the goals I set for myself. The highs for me was becoming the CAC champion and being able to salvage my season at the World Championships, making the semifinals, and just missing the final after getting injured one month away from competition”, athlete Richards added.

Noting this, Jereem won the men’s honour for the sixth time, as he also won the title in previous years, such as in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Other winners of the evening

Abilene Wildcats

Abilene Wildcats sprinter received the honour after winning the gold medal in the men’s 400m at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in EI Salvador on July 6. He marked his personal best time of 44.54 seconds.

Moreover, he led the T&T men’s 4x400m team to victory at the CAC Games. He is considered the Point Fortin-born athlete who opted to focus on the 400m in the 2023 season and was the only local athlete to reach the semi-final round at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Athlete of the Year- Junior Category

Sanaa Fredrick and Tafari Waldron secured the top positions in the junior category of the “Athlete of the Year” award.

Frederick took home the junior women’s trophy after winning the Carifta Girls Under -20 in 200m in the Bahamas and supported T&T to win silver medals in the Girls Under-20 4x10m and 4×400.

The US-born also won a bronze medal in the 100m. Notably, in her first year representing T&T, a junior athlete clinched a bronze medal in the girls’ 100m at the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

Additionally, Waldron of Cougars Athletic Club raced to the Carifta boys’ U-20 5,000m title.