By Nicholas Martin, Trackalerts.com writer
World 400m silver medallist Shaunae Miller walked away with three top awards at the inaugural Bahamas National Sports Awards, held recently. The 21-year-old nabbed the prestigious top award; The Prime Ministers Award for National Pride, Female Athlete of the Year, as well as Overall Athlete of the Year honors.
Miller, who set a personal best of 49.67 seconds over the one lap event at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China in August, became only the 3rd Bahamian female to break the 50 second barrier, joining former World and Olympic Champion Tonique Williams-Darling and Pauline Davis-Thompson.
The National record holder over the 200m, in an interview with Tribune 242, expressed that, "it's an amazing feeling. I just thank God so much for all the opportunities."
Also receiving top honors at the awards were Olympic bronze Medallist, Leevan Sands. The Triple Jumper walked away with the National Award for Courage.
World Bronze Medallist, Jeffrey Gibson, who was among the nominees for athlete of the year, expressed that it was indeed an honor to be nominated among the likes of Miller and anticipates a better season next year. "I feel honored that I was selected among all the different athletes at an event like this."
19-year-old quarter miler Steven Gardiner was the recipient of the Rising Start Athlete of the Yeae award, after becoming the seventh Bahamian to break the 45-second barrier with 44.27, erasing Chris Brown's record (44.40) in the process.
A pleased Gardiner expressed that, "it's my first year as a senior, so I think I did pretty good." After failing to get past the rounds in his debut World Championships in Beijing, Gardiner now has his sights set on the upcoming season, but more so the Olympic Games in Rio.
