Youth Olympic swimmer Dylan Carter and chess player Javanna Smith were named Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year, respectively at the First Citizens Sport Foundation Youth 2014 Awards Ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad on Dock Road in Port-of-Spain, on Friday evening.
Thirty-nine athletes (22 young men and 17 young women) were nominated by their respective national sporting organisation for the top accolades.
When the ten finalists were announced Carter was up against Naim Mohammed, (badminton) Joshua Johnson, (chess) Akil Campbell, (cycling) Sachin Kumar, (golf) Akanni Hislop, (track and field), while Smith was in contention with Kollyn St George, (cycling) Kristin Julien, (swimming) Jeminise Parris, (track and field).
In the end, Carter and Smith prevailed.
For Carter, however, the win represented consecutive victories at the event. It was Smith first FC Sports Foundation Award.
Smith is reputed to be this country first FIDE Master having finished third in the women's leg of the competition at the Central American and Caribbean Under-20 Championships in Costa Rica.
She also logged five victories in ten games at the Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway to help T&T to three wins in the women's event. During competition at the Pan American Championships in Mexico, Smith won three matches and drew an equal number.
Meanwhile, Carter continued to craft a growing reputation as an outstanding swimmer today and for the future. At the IOC Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, he won a silver medal in the men's 50-metre butterfly with a personal best of 23.81 second, and bronze in the 50-metre freestyle clocking 22.53 seconds. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Carter finished fifth in the 100-metre freestyle finals.
Winners:
Youth Sportsman of the Year–
Dylan Carter
Youth Sportswoman of the Year–
Javana Smith
Honour Roll:
Naim Mohammed, Badminton
Joshua Johnson, Chess
Javanna Smith, Chess
Akil Campbell, Cycling
Kollyn St George, Cycling
Sachin Kumar, Golf
Dylan Carter, Swimming
Kristin Jukien, Swimming
Akanni Hislop,
Track and Field
Jeminise Parris,
Track and Field