Sport

Foster, Beckford look to Athens

Brigitte Foster - Winston Sill

LONG JUMPER James Beckford and sprint hurdler Brigitte Foster are expressing supreme confidence months ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics, this after copping the Carreras 2003 Sportsman and Sports-woman of the year titles at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday night.

"I feel this is going to be the year for me," Beckford said at a press conference held after the ceremony.

Beckford, who was winning his third Sportsman of the year title, said: "I am stronger and I am injury-free. I am concentrating now on doing some sprinting (60m), which will help me in the long jump."

Foster who was taking her second consecutive award, said: "I am really looking forward to the 2004 Games (Olympics), I think it is special for me."

Explaining why it will be special she said: "I think because we are going back to where it all started - in Athens - and they are going to try and put on a good show.

"Not only that, but it's my second Olympic Games. Sydney (Oly-mpic Games) was my first big outing. Now I am a more mature athlete as I have gained experience from the last World Champion-ships and from running on the circuit."

Jamaica's top junior sprinters, Usain Bolt and Anneisha McLau-ghlin were given special awards. Bolt won for his exploits at World Youth, Junior Pan Am and as IAAF's 2003 Rising Star of the year, while McLaughlin picked up her award for a gold medal run at the World Youth Championships.

Beckford and Foster, who topped cricketer Chris Gayle and 400m runner Lorraine Fenton respectively for the $300,000 first prize, both said they were happy to be named top athletes. The runners-up pocketed $150,000.

An honour

"It means a lot to me, because I am competing, not only against track and field athletes, but all the other sporting persons in the country. To be the number one, it's always an honour," Beckford, who won silver at the 1996 Olympics said.

"It's a wonderful feeling and I feel very special," Foster said.

She added that the award would inspire her to do greater things this season.

"To know that our nation and sporting fraternity have recognised and appreciated what you have done, it's just a great feeling."

Certificates of Merit went to National Under-19 cricket coach Junior Bennett; Gervais Clarke, International Track & Field Official; Stephen Francis, athletics coach; Michelle Holt for services to hockey; Jacqueline Walter, national swimming coach.

Other Special Awards went to Jamaica's women 4x400m relay team, which won bronze at the World Championships; Jamaica's Under-15 cricket team, which won the West Indies tournament; National Senior netball team, which finished third at the World Netball Championships.

Members of Jamaica's men's 4x400m relay team, which won bronze at the World Championships and gold at Pan Am were also presented with special awards.

Category award winners were: Nigella Saunders and Charles Pyne (badminton); Carla Williams (netball); Chris Gayle (cricket); Janelle Atkinson (swimming); Ricardo Fuller (football); Alana Broderick and Dustin Brown (tennis), Beckford and Foster (track & field).