Aston Gill, 18, and Jada Barker, 17, were named the Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year 2014 respectively at Cougars Track and Field Club annual Awards and Dinner on Wednesday evening, at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium, Mucurapo.
It was the third consecutive win for Gill, but a maiden victory for Barker.
He specialised in 800 and 1,500-metre events, while Barker was a sprinter competing in the 100 and 200-metre dashes.
Gill secured places on T&T Carifta and Central American and Caribbean 2014 teams, while Barker was selected for the former.
But they weren't the only top medallists taking the spotlight on the night's ritzy affair.
Citing that Cougars Athletics Club was so ripe with talent, the executive of the premier developmental outfit was forced to introduce two new awards: Junior Male Athlete of the Year and Junior Female Athlete of the Year.
Sprinters Ethan Forde, 12 and Caliyah Wallace, 12, were the proud recipients.
Interviewed, Barker said, "It's a good accomplishment, but still, I know I have more work to do. I made it on the Carifta relay team. I ran (the) third leg. We placed fifth. It was a good experience. I didn't expect to make it to the team because I had an injury and I doubted myself. But when I made it onto the team, it made me learn that working hard and not giving up helps you out a lot," she said.
Barker said she was pleased with the level of excellence being displayed by female athletes in the sport.
"At a young age, I looked up to Michelle Lee Ayhe. I like the way she is performing now, proving that with hard work you could really reach where you want to go. I want to make it to the Olympics, but not just make it to the Olympics. I want to medal. I hope that hard work will pay off," she said.
Barker predicts that there's a degree in Exercise and Sports Science with First Class Honours with her name on it. That's the area of studies she wished to pursue.
She firmly believed that sports and the academics formed a great mix. "Once you keep your focus, you can achieve anything you put your mind too," she said.
Gill, meanwhile, said achieving the Senior Athlete of the Year Award was important to him, knowing that he worked hard throughout the year amid champions like himself.
"Achieving that is a big thing for me. My goals and having my coach there keeps me motivated. Knowing that he is there driving me towards my goals...that is what motivates me, along with my parents and of course Almighty God," he said.
Gill, a student at East Mucurapo Secondary School, said despite his efforts on the international stage in donning the national colours, football remains the main sport of choice at his school, but his national popularity was turning heads.
"I'm also on television; always in the newspapers. And it's like, he is a big runner, let's lime with him. I am like in a leadership position at school, encouraging people to be the best at their game, so they could encourage others," he said.
Responding to questions about running out of shelve space at home for his awards, Gill replied jokingly that space for his trophies was not an immediate concern, but when that time came, "I would build more shelves."