Former T&T and West Indies woman cricketer Gwendolyn Smith is the T&T Association of Masters Athletes (TTAMA) Female Athlete of the Year.
She was awarded the honour at Friday Annual Awards ceremony and Dinner hosted by the TTAMA at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook.
Smith, 50, was the world number one javelin athlete according to world master athletics rankings with a distance of 45.35 back in March at the World Masters Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Lester Herbert, 51, from the Zeno Constance Athletic Club, who doctors told he could no longer take part in competitive sports after two knee surgeries, expressed surprise over his top award. He was certain that his coach and training partner Martin Prime would have copped that award.
At the Games in Budapest Prime secured gold in the 60-metre event and silver in the 200-metre. Herbert's events were the 100 and 200 metres and the long jump.
Herbert told the Guardian that: "I usually run second to him. I thought he would have been the one capturing it. However, they said I had participated in more events then him, both foreign and local," he said, with surprise.
He added, "I feel like 45. When I wake up on a morning, I feel invigorated... hopeful. I feel like I could conquer the day. What I am doing now is a partial miracle, because I had two surgeries on my knee from playing football and the doctor had stated that I should take it easy and I would not be able to do this and I would be able to do that. Martin (Prime) invited me to start running and the rest is history."
Even though working shift challenged the consistency of his four-day a week training regime, Herbert always worked to ensure his workouts were not compromised.
Being a member of the club was a great experience for Herbert who took delight in sharing his knowledge with emerging athletes, while embracing the lessons they pass on to him.
Meanwhile, Smith, a native of Siparia and the world number-one told G-Sport that "After playing international cricket for the West Indies the easiest sport to take up was javelin because of the same arm action. I was a fast bowler. After doing my level one coaching (cricket) course I coach a couple schools in the southern area: Fyzabad Composite and Palo Seco Secondary and Palo Seco (Government) Primary."
She added, "I have no regret taking up javelin and after throwing 45.35 in Budapest this year, bringing me to world number one. I am the world number one champion for 2014, but I am going for the world record in 2015."
She lamented that except for practitioners in this level of the sport, the rest of this country was clueless about her feat and what it meant internationally as the concept of masters athletics continues to grow apace across the globe.
"The media don't focus on us much because they think what we do is a joke. They haven't realised how important is it when we go out there and compete. T&T need to appreciate us for what we do. I encourage anyone to go on the internet and go to WMA. I am well respect out there. The encouragement for me to stay competing is because when I go out there I realise and I accept what is given to me," Smith said.
T&T's medal haul at another World Masters Games held this year, this time in Costa Rica, back in August, numbered 69: 34 gold; 27 silver and 8 bronze.
Smith said based on the quality performances delivered by athletes from this country, people from around the world have enquired about the systems and structures formalised in T&T to cause local athletes to shine.
"If we told them that people in T&T don't take us on, somebody here at home would get vexed. But that is what happens to us," she said.
The Honour Roll
Athlete of the Year
Lester Herbert (Male)
Gwendolyn Smith (Female)
Category: 30-34
Dwayne Caines (Male)
Category: 35-39
Rodney Liverpool (Male)
Category: 40-44
Philbert Ryce (Male)
Nicole Alleyne-Noreiga (Female)
Category: 45-49
Andie Montique (Male)
Joan Hospedales (Female)
Category: 50-54
Lester Herbert (Male)
Gwendolyn Smith (Female)
Category: 55-59
James Bristol (Male)
Cheryl Reyes (Female)
Category: 60-64
Terrence Skinner (Male)
Irma Thomas (Female)
Category: 65-69
Ahmad As-Siddiq (Male)
Yvonne Mitchell (Female)
Category: 70-74
Irma Riley (Female)
Category: 75-79
Oswald Rogers (Male)
Monica Tang Wing (Female)