Photos: BTFA Awards Banquet
The guest speakers ran off with the two of the top awards last night [Dec.18] when the Bermuda Track & Field Association [BTFA] held their Awards Banquet at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
Olympians Tyrone Smith and Arantxa King addressed the gala — with. Ms King later named the Open Female Athlete of the Year and Mr. Smith taking the honours in the Open Male Division.
During the Awards Ceremony BTFA President Donna Watson thanked Bermuda’s coaches including Jarita Vickers, Cal Simons, Paul Simons, Devon Bean, Xavier James, Michael Watson and Carifta Head Coach Brian.Wellman.
On the Track in the Under 17 Age Group Category, Kyrah Scraders was named Female Athlete of the Year, while Bruce Degrilla was voted as the Male Athlete of the Year.
Both athletes won medals at the recent Carifta Games, Degrilla in the long jump, while Scraders won a medal in the 1500m.
Ashley Berry was named as the Under 20 Female Athlete of the Year, with Shaquille Dill taking the Under 20 Boy’s Title.
Dill captured the silver medal in the U/20 Carifta 800m race — his second consecutive year winning the silver medal in the event, while Berry also medaled in the Carifta Games, and achieved the #1 ranking in the 3000m in the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Federation [CAC].
On the Road, Jennifer Alen and Chris Estwanik took home the Open Female and Male 2011 Championships Titles, while Deon Breary and Gary Raynor were named the Female and Male Master Champions.
Click to enlarge photos:
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Outstanding to all, great work little cuz Kyrah Scraders. Keep it up everyone no let get some olympic mentals. Go Bermuda!!!!
This banquet was great. It is a good push for athletes. However it only showed SOME of our many young, talented track athletes how much they are appreciated. Only three athletes per gender was recognized. What about ALL of the other athletes who have had superb seasons over the past two years? They were not even mentioned. What about Taylor-Ashley Bean, Akeila Richardson, Christian Wright, Allison Outerbridge, Juma Mouchette, Jeneko Place, Jasmine Brunson, and Justin Donawa, all carifta medalist from 2010 and 2011who were not recognized. Or how about Aaron Evans and Tre Houston? We need to be encouraging and recognizing our athletes, not neglecting and ignoring their triumphs. What is this showing them? That they’re not good enough?
Bahamas recently hosted a similar event and their athletes were properly recognized, so why can’t we do the same? They recognized the nominees for a slue of awards dividing them between track events and field events. We need to be taking steps like this. If we are going to do something good, let’s do it right!
And then there is the coach recognitions? Every coach, even thos who do not really coach athletes regularly, were given awards, except for the BEST coach there is, Gerry Swan. Bermuda’s most successful athletes were and STILL are a direct result of this man. Mr. Swan is the most qualified, dedicated and, by far, the most passionate man to coach Bermuda’s fine track athletes, and yet his name was not even merely mentioned?
I am appalled. Btfa, GET IT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!