Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson is among 11 athletes nominated for Women’s World Athlete of the Year.

The athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

In what has been another memorable year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, one-day meeting circuits, Label road races and other events around the world.

In August, Jackson, 29, won her second 200m title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest where she also won silver medals in the 100m and 4x100m relay. She capped off her impressive season by winning Diamond League trophies in both 100m and 200m at the season-ending meet in Eugene, Oregon.

The impressive list of nominees also includes Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, winner of the Berlin marathon winner and who set the world marathon record this past season.

Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the 400m hurdles in Budapest and set a world indoor 400m record during the season.

The strong favourite to walk away with the award this year is Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the World 1500m and 5000m champion, who set world records 1500m, mile and 5000m in 2023.

Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi is the World champion at the javelin. She is also the Diamond League champion.

Also among the nominees is Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine who is the World champion and Diamond League champion at the high jump.

Spain’s Maria Perez is the World 20km and 35km race walk world champion, who established a new world record at the 35km race walk.

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay is the World 10,000m champion, who won the Diamond League 5000m title with a new world record.

The USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson is the newly crowned World champion at 100m and bronze medallist at 200m.

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas won her fourth consecutive world title at the triple jump and also added the Diamond League title to her extraordinary exploits during the season.

Bahrain’s Winfed Yavi is the 3000m steeplechase World champion, who also won the Diamond League title with a world-leading performance.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube this week; a 'like' on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on X will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 per cent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Saturday 28 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics on 13-14 November.

The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on 11 December.

Last week was a memorable one for two-time world championships bronze medalist Sada Williams.

Williams won a bronze medal in the 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August, becoming the first Barbadian athlete to win medals at consecutive global athletics championships. She won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Also in 2022, Williams won the gold medal in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England and a silver medal at the NACAC Senior Championships in Freeport, Bahamas.

Last week, the government of Barbados, in acknowledgement of those accomplishments, unveiled two billboards bearing her image and rewarded her with a cash award of $150,000. That same week, Williams was also made a brand ambassador for Sagicor in Barbados.

“I am proud to announce that I have officially become a brand ambassador for Sagicor, Barbados and I will be part of their family,” the proud athlete posted on her Instagram page.

“Last night (Thursday) was the official welcome where I met so many wonderful and fun people. I cannot wait to start this journey with you guys.

She expressed her gratitude to Sagicor’s management team who put the deal together.

“Special thanks to Mr Paul Innis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sagicor Life Inc. and Chief Executive Officer Mr George Thomas of Sagicor Bank for making this partnership possible.”

Williams is expected to return to training in the coming week as she prepares for what is expected to be another successful year as she hunts for her first Olympic medal in Paris, France.

In recognition of her stellar athletic career, Jamaican Olympian Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn was honoured by the Guyana Jamaica Friendship Association in New York on Saturday, October 7.

The 59-year-old Cuthbert-Flynn famously won two silver medals at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992 running a lifetime best time of 10.82 in the 100m final won by American Gail Devers. She ran 22.02 for her second silver medal of the Games in the 200m final.

She won a bronze medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta in the United States. Also among her many global accolades is a gold medal that she won as a member of Jamaica’s sprint relay team at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

On Saturday night, those significant accomplishments among others were recognized by the association  formed in January 2014 with the goal of fostering friendly relationships between the two Caricom countries.

Cuthbert, who is now State Minister in Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security, was gracious in her acceptance of the award.

“I am humbled to receive recognition for my athletic achievements by the Guyana Jamaica Friendship Association. I wish to thank Dr Frank Benbow, Claudenette Powell and their members,” the Jamaican icon said in a post on Instagram.

Cuthbert-Flynn also acknowledged the tremendous work being done by the association.

“I was inspired listening to the any stories and the impact of the association on numerous young lives. I thank you all for presenting me with an award.”

Hoilett represented Jamaica in the 440 yards (400m) at various championships, with the 1964 Olympics being the pinnacle of his career.

"Rupert was known as a hard worker with talent to boot. He was good enough to make the Olympic team even as a Kingston College schoolboy coming out of Boys Championships," said Garth Gayle. "We owe our current successes to athletes like Hoilett who toiled hard for success and lifted the name of Jamaica even when there was not much to gain from the sport. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Condolences to his family and friends," concluded Gayle.

Hoilett came to public attention at the Boys Championships when he won the the 440 yards race in 49.3 seconds, which at the time was the first sub-50-second clocking in the history of the event.

He would later book a place on the Jamaica team to Tokyo Olympics with an improved 49.1 seconds and was given the honour of carrying the nation's flag during the opening ceremonies.

In 2019, Hoilett’s property on Skibo Avenue in Kingston was damaged by fire.

As it celebrates National Coaches Day on Friday, October 6, the Jamaica Track and Field Coaches Association (JTFCA) has announced that it will honour several members of its coaching fraternity for long and distinguished service on November 11, 2023.

The awards will be in four categories: Silver (20-25 years), Gold (26-30 years), Platinum (30-40 years) and Lifetime Award (Over 40 years).

Among the coaches to be honoured are Fitzroy Ball, Paul Francis, Richard Thomas and H. Michael Vassell who are set to receive Platinum Awards, Michael Dyke, Dwayne Jarrett, Kevin Pryce and Hermon Reid who will be bestowed with Gold Awards.

The recipients of the Silver Awards are Lawson Brown, Keilando Goburn, Christopher Mitchell, David Riley, Garth Smythe and Lecia Walters.

Iconic track and field coach Stephen Francis will also be presented with the Hector-Smith Master Coach Award named after the late Edward Hector and Eldemire Smith who both served as executive members of the Coaches Association. Francis, Michael Clarke, Patrick Johnson and Errol Messias will also receive Lifetime Awards.

The Jamaica Track and Field Coaches Association is internationally recognized body for Jamaica’s track and field coaches at the Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Club and Elite levels. The association is an affiliate of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) and is endorsed by World Athletics.

It is also the representative body for all Track and Field coaches in Jamaica.

October 6 is recognized as National Coaches Day across many federations in North America and the Caribbean region and is a day when the work of coaches across all sports are recognized. It is also a day when issues and challenges facing the profession are brought into sharp focus.

"My sister, Shelly, won't let me give up on running," reveals Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the fastest woman in Africa, as she reflects on a remarkable season she describes as "great for me."

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic and 10-time world champion, serves as a constant source of motivation for Ta Lou. She reveals that the soon-to-be 37-year-old Jamaican icon is among the main reasons she plans to show up in Paris next year.

"She is constantly reminding me that she is older than me and she is still going strong. Her words are loud in my head every single day and she never gets exhausted of motivating me to wake every morning and do what I like,” the Ivorian speedster said. “Shelly-Ann is one of the many reasons you will see me in Paris for what could be my last Olympic Games."

While her love for the track spans a decade, Ta Lou acknowledges that her calling in athletics is greater than merely amassing medals.

Ta Lou, who achieved an African record time of 10.72 seconds during the 2022 Monaco Diamond League, making her the sixth-fastest woman of all time, has faced the heartache of coming agonizingly close to the podium at major championships. This season, she concluded the World Athletics Championships in Budapest with a fourth-place finish, a result that still stings.

"I wanted to get a medal but finished fourth. I have been in a situation where I have been crying alone in my room," Ta Lou reveals in an interview with the BBC. "The support I received from fans across the world and my fellow competitors has been my saving grace."

While Ta Lou is no stranger to narrowly missing out on top honors in athletics, she understands the profound impact she can have beyond the podium. She believes her calling extends to inspiring others to persevere and overcome the fear of failure.

"Sometimes I feel like my calling is different and way bigger than always being on the podium," she states. "It's about the hope I give to people to keep trying and about the legacy that I want to leave behind. I know there are people beyond athletics who see themselves through me in their daily struggles."

Ta Lou emphasizes that winning is not solely about crossing the finish line first but rather about the impact an athlete can have on people's lives. She aspires to be a beacon of the never-give-up spirit, encouraging others to pursue their dreams relentlessly.

Her journey has been marked by challenges, but Ta Lou maintains a positive outlook. She acknowledges the role of faith in her resilience, stating, "My strength comes from God," and sharing how quiet moments of meditation and prayer provide her with the vigor to persevere.

Despite moments of doubt and contemplating giving up, Ta Lou's motivation stems from the desire to make her mother proud, represent Africa, and inspire young girls on the continent to pursue their dreams. She sees herself as a source of light and hope for those facing complex challenges.

Jamaican quarter-miler Sean Bailey has signed a professional contract with Adidas. Bailey, a finalist in the 400m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August, made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday, explaining that the development is a dream come true.

“Lost for words. These past two years out of college, I wanted to run track and field professionally. Two years later I am Adidas athlete,” Bailey said in his post.

The younger brother of Jamaican Olympian icon Veronica Campbell-Brown, Bailey enjoyed perhaps his most successful season. In May, he ran a personal best 44.43 to win at the Drake Relays defeating the 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James and then won his first national title at the Jamaica National Championships in July.

In winning the national title, Bailey defeated Antonio Watson, who would go on to win the 400m at the championships in Budapest. Bailey made it to the final where he finished fifth in 44.96. An injury prevented him from participating in the 4x400m relay. His presence was missed as Jamaica finished fourth.

However, he has had his fair share of injuries which have hampered his progress and at one point had him thinking about giving up.

“The journey has not been an easy one by any means. I wanted to give up so many times because I felt as if I was not good enough. I stuck with it and I’m here to tell anyone out there chasing a goal that it is possible. It’s not a cliché, work hard and dedicate yourself.”

He expressed gratitude to his management team, OntrackManagement, “for believing in me and working with me through all my rough patches. I am grateful to have you all by my side.” He also thanked his coaxh Mickael Hanany for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to lean every day. “We have a lot more work to get done,” he said.

In celebration of her second global medal and consistent performances throughout the season, the government of Barbados on Wednesday unveiled two billboards bearing the image of the now two-time World Championships bronze medallist, Sada Williams.

The star athlete was also given a cash award of Bdos$150,000 in recognition of her milestone achievements. Williams, who trains with the MVP track club in Jamaica, is the first Barbadian athlete to win back-to-back medals at a global championship.

The 25-year-old Williams has been magnificent form over the last two seasons. In 2022, she won bronze at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon running what was then a national record of 49.75. She followed up two weeks later with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

That year, she also won a silver medal at the NACAC Senior Championships in the Bahamas.

Williams carried that momentum into 2023 when, despite a slow start to the season, peaked at the World Championships in Budapest to win another bronze medal in the final of the 400m. On route to the final, she set a new national record of 49.58.

Deservedly, her exemplary performances have been recognized and rewarded by her country, a gesture which Williams expressed her gratitude in a post on Instagram.

“Today, the Government of Barbados unveiled two billboards and a portrait of me and my achievements. I was also awarded $150,000 as a token of appreciation,” she said.

“Thank you to the government of Barbados, Ministry of Youth Sports and Community Empowerment, the National Sports Council, the Barbados Olympic Association, and the Athletic Association of Barbados for the support and continued support.

Special thanks to my entire team and management @the_real_MVPz for having brought me this far. And of course the love, appreciation and support from my fellow Bajans.”

 In a heartwarming ceremony held at the MICO University College campus on Marescaux Road in Kingston, Island Grill, the renowned chain of fast-food restaurants, awarded Carifta 100m hurdles champion Alexis James a four-year scholarship. James, a former student of Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, is pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree in Physical Education and Sports.

The MICO University College freshman will also be Island Grill’s first ambassador.

James, who has turned professional and will train with the Racers Track Club, has made her mark as a rising star in Jamaican athletics, notably as the 100m hurdles champion at the 2023 Carifta Games and as a silver medalist in the 100m. Her impressive journey also includes winning a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Dr. Thalia Lyn, the founder of Island Grill and Chairperson of the NCB Foundation, expressed her pride and excitement over sponsoring James’ academic journey. She highlighted the significance of the occasion, not only in empowering a remarkable young athlete but also in reinforcing Island Grill's commitment to nurturing future leaders who will contribute significantly to Jamaica's betterment.

Dr. Lyn commended James not only for her athletic prowess but also for her dedication to academic excellence. "My Island Grill family is honored to gather here with you today along with my NCB Foundation colleagues because our hearts are bursting with pride and excitement, we're bookmarking this occasion that not only empowers a remarkable young athlete we had the pleasure of launching with at Island Grill today."

She continued, "It reinforces Island Grill's commitment to nurturing future leaders who will contribute significantly to the betterment of our nation. Jamaica has always stood tall in the world of athletics. Our island is known for producing legends and Alexis, you are swiftly joining those ranks. She continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of competitive sprinting, plus a demonstrated demonstration of heart, spirit, and determination. Yet it is not just your athletic prowess that impresses us, Alexis. Your desire to pursue academic excellence at MICO is equally inspiring, and we celebrate your balanced pursuit of excellence."

As a demonstration of their commitment, Island Grill announced the inaugural Island Grill Athletic Scholarship, valued at J$500,000 annually. This scholarship will cover tuition and board, and discussions will be held regarding nutrition support.

Dr. Lyn assured James, "And we will provide this annually until you graduate with an understanding that you maintain that lovely B average that we're proud of. Okay, and we'll help you. Don't worry, we're not just going to give you the money and, you know, leave you alone."

Dr. Lyn highlighted the importance of sending a message to young Jamaican athletes that they can excel both on the track and in the classroom. James’ scholarship embodies this message and encourages other aspiring athletes to believe in their ability to achieve greatness not only as athletes but also as scholars.

Nicole Robinson, Vice President Marketing Communication at National Commercial Bank (NCB), also played a pivotal role in supporting Alexis James's journey. Robinson revealed that Dr. Lyn approached her, requesting sponsorship support for James, which Robinson wholeheartedly embraced.

Robinson gifted James a brand new laptop and emphasized the natural synergy between NCB Foundation and James’ promising future.

She emphasized the importance of financial literacy in athletes' lives, ensuring that they have a solid financial plan for life after athletics. Robinson added, "She told me about Alexis's promise, right. She believed in her. There is a spark that I, I think all of us saw here today. It was a natural synergy for us because we're really, really focused this year on driving financial literacy. And that was really the angle that we spoke about because a lot of athletes, you know, it's, it's sad to say, they make all of this money during their career and then there's no focus on the life after athletics. So we had a conversation about her potential.”

Robinson expressed confidence in James’ immense potential and thinks she can be an advocate for NCB campaign to improve financial literacy among emerging athletes.

"I think all of us saw it today. She's passionate and she has places to go. I don't think anybody has a doubt in their mind that her name is not going to be right there beside Shelly's (Fraser-Pryce), beside Elaine (Thompson-Herah and beside Shericka's (Jackson),” Robinson remarked.

"So we're really excited to support her journey. We want to add the financial literacy or integrate the financial literacy component because we think that it's important. We want to have those types of conversations, not just with Alexis, but with young upcoming athletes. We're very involved in programs like MVP Grassroots Programme. That's a sponsorship that we have maintained over the years where we do some level of financial literacy and that's going to be a major focus for us this year.

"Through this partnership, she can become somewhat of a financial literacy advocate. So we want to pour into her. We know that she has a far way to go, and we want to be part of her journey from the very beginning."

Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis will be a guest of honor at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, from October 26 to November 1.

Lewis is one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time, having set world records in the 100m dash, 4x100m and 4x200m relays, and in the indoor long jump. He also won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1987, in the long jump and 4x100m relay.

The 62-year-old Lewis is currently a coach at the University of Houston, where he mentors more than 100 young athletes, including Mexico's Cecilia Tamayo, who will compete in the 100m and 200m at the Santiago 2023 Games.

"I'm so looking forward to coming down to Santiago for the 2023 Pan Am Games," Lewis said in a statement. "I went to the Pan Am Games more than once, and it was my first international team, so it's really exciting to get down there."

Lewis's appearance at the Pan American Games is part of a select group of sporting legends who will be present as guests of Panam Sports.

"Carl Lewis, the Son of the Wind, is a tremendous athlete and icon of the sports world," said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic. "For us it is a tremendous honor to have him here. We are going to have many surprises, and Carl is one of the first that we are announcing."

Lewis's presence at the Pan American Games is sure to add excitement to the event and inspire athletes from all over the Americas.

In yet another example of why Hansle Parchment continues to be a fan favourite who continues to perform at the highest level, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics champion has dedicated the silver medal he won at the 2023 World Athletics Championships to his long-time coach Fitz Coleman.

Parchment, 33, who won his first Diamond League trophy last month in a lifetime best and world-leading 12.93s run, was the runner-up to the now three-time world champion Grant Holloway of the USA, in Budapest in August. On Monday, he shared on social media that that silver medal holds special meaning.

“This year’s world championship in Budapest was special as I received a second medal for my coach,” he said. “Mr. Fitz Coleman has been my coach for 14 years and counting. He has been a friend and a mentor. He’s been a guiding force in all my achievements and I want to send a heartfelt thanks as he deserves this medal as much as I do.”

Parchment will attempt to defending his Olympic title in Paris next summer. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Parchment stunned the world by upstaging Holloway, the gold medal favorite, winning his first Olympic title in 13.04.

Dina Asher-Smith became the first British female to win a world sprint title when she took gold in the 200 metres final at the World Athletics Championships in Doha on this day in 2019.

Asher-Smith, then 23, set a British record with a time of 21.88 seconds that was enough to beat American Brittany Brown, upgrading the silver she had taken in the 100m final earlier in the meeting.

“I know I was tired and woke up today knowing this was the last individual chance and this was the moment I did all my work for,” Asher-Smith said after the race.

“This is what we knew we could achieve if the season went well, and the tiredness just disappeared when I needed it to.

“It means so much. There’s so many British fans here. I know lots of Brits live in Doha but lots have travelled and for my mum to be here, my dad, John and his wife and my physios… it means so much.”

Asher-Smith had been elevated to favourite in the race after a number of rivals pulled out of the event, with then Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Dafne Schippers all missing.

Asher-Smith’s performances in Doha boosted hopes that she could contend for a medal at the Tokyo Olympics as she had broken her own British record in the 100m final.

After the postponement of the Games by 12 months amid the coronavirus pandemic, Asher-Smith was selected to race in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

However, she failed to get through qualifying in the 100m and later revealed she had suffered a hamstring injury, forcing her to pull out of the 200m.

Nevertheless, Asher-Smith was able to compete in the 4x100m relay and helped Great Britain win bronze.

Two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson is now the second-best female combined sprinter of all time and could soon to become the greatest of all time if she runs faster in the 100m, 200m or 400m in the coming season.

As at the end of the 2022/2023 season when she won her second 200m world title in championship record time of 21.41 at the World Championships, Jackson now boasts personal best time of 10.65 in the 200m, 21.41 in the 200m and 49.47 in the 400m.

The super-talented Jamaican, who is also the only athlete to win global medals in all three events, has amassed ranking points of 1277 for her lifetime best of 10.65 in the 100m, 1301 for her national record time of 21.41 in the 200m and 1227 for her personal best 49.47 in the 400m for a tally of 3805 points.

Only one woman has more points and that is Germany’s Marita Koch, who ran times of 10.83 for the 100m, 21.71 for the 200m and a remarkable 47.60, the world record, for the 400m for a total of 3809 points.

It was not that long ago that Jackson was further down the list behind the likes of Florence Griffith-Joyner (3), Marion Jones (4), Shaunae Miller-Uibo (5), Allyson Felix (6), Gwen Torrence (7) and Marie Jose Perec, (8) all of whom are ranked among the top 10 best combined sprinters in history.

She is the highest-ranked Jamaican with the iconic Merlene Ottey (10.74/21.64/51.12) ranked 13^th, Grace Jackson (11.08/21.72/49.57) ranked 16^th and Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.76/21.74/52.24) ranked 22^nd.

In fact, in 2021, Jackson was 21^st in the list before her outstanding performances over the last three seasons saw her rocket up the list to the number two slot. In 2021, Jackson has lifetimes bests of 10.76/21.81/49.47 for the 100m, 200m and 400m, respectively.

Breaking the world record of 21.34 in the 200m, a goal that is well within her reach, dipping under 10.60 for the 100m or running 48 seconds over the 400m and she will take her rightful place of Greatest Of All Time among women combined sprinters.

Two-time 200m world champion Dafne Schippers, who famously chased down and beat Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah at the line in the finals at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, has retired.

The 31-year-old Dutchwoman, who won a silver medal in the 100m final behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce that year, has been plagued by injury over the past few years, impairing her ability to compete at the highest level.

On Tuesday, she announced on Instagram that her race has been run.

“The race stops here,” she announced.

“As an athlete, you always know this day will come, that at one point, your career will be a moment in time—a collection of memories and hopefully medals. Today, I have decided to take my life off track to pursue and embrace whatever comes next, but not without saying a massive thank you for all the endless support. It has been a journey without regret.”

She expressed gratitude to all who have supported in a career that did not quite materialize in the way she would have liked.

“My family, my team, my fans, and my sponsors, you made it all worthwhile.”

At her peak, Schippers was among the greatest ever short sprinters.

She set a championship record of 21.63 in Beijing after chasing down Thompson-Herah and nipping the Jamaican, who ran a then personal best of 21.66, at the line. Veronica Campbell-Brown was third in 21.97.

At the time, Schippers’ time was the third-fastest ever run over the half-lap sprint. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner (21.34) and Marion Jones (21.62) had run faster. The Dutchwoman had earlier run a lifetime best 10.81 to win the silver medal behind Fraser-Pryce in the 100m final.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Schippers won the silver medal behind Thompson-Herah in the 200m, running a time of 21.88. She was a disappointing fifth in the 100m final due to injury. She won the 200m world title at the 2017 World Championships and was third in the 100m.

An adductor injury forced her to withdraw from the 2019 World Championships in Doha and persistent back injuries limited her ability to compete internationally for more than a year. She last raced in the 100m in Belgium in July 2022 finishing second in her heat in 11.37.

Coach Glen Mills, the renowned track and field guru, was the center of attention at the Annual People Profile Awards on Sunday, September 24.

Held at the Faith Centre in Sunrise, Florida, the black-tie red-carpet affair, sponsored by the Housing Foundation of America, not only celebrated exceptional individuals and organizations within the community but also paid tribute to luminaries in the music industry and sports.

Coach Glen Mills received special recognition for his contributions to the world of track and field, along with Consul General R. Oliver Mair, who was honored with the President's Award.

Mills, whose career as a track and field coach, has spanned five decades, developed some of Jamaica’s greatest sprinters including 100/200m world record holder Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history who is also an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time world champion.

Mills also developed Yohan Blake, the youngest man to win a 100m world title in 2011 and Warren Weir, the 2012 Olympic 200m bronze medalist.

Mills also coached Raymond Stewart to the Olympic 100m final at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles while he was fresh out of Camperdown High School where Mills helped cement a legacy for the school that would eventually be dubbed ‘The Sprint Factory’ having produced such luminaries like Leroy Reid and Remaldo Rose.

Mills is currently the coach of Oblique Seville, who was fourth in the 100m finals in 2022 and 2023.

Founded by Lecturer/Businessman Dr. Allan Cunningham in 2015, the People Profile Awards aim to recognize individuals whose stories inspire, motivate, or educate others while supporting charitable causes.

Under the theme "Together We Are Stronger," the People Profile Organization collaborated with the University of Fort Lauderdale, aligning their vision to prioritize people, education, and community. This partnership is set to create a lasting impact on the community.

The People Profile Awards 2023 featured an evening filled with entertainment, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

The awards ceremony encompassed 16 categories, including "Humanitarian," "Media," "Sportsman of the Year," and "Courage" Awards.

Norman Hemming assumed the role of host for this grand celebration of excellence.