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August 20, 2008

Olympic Gold for UTech’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 2007/2008

Nesta Carter and Shelly-Ann Fraser

The University of Technology, Jamaica was given more reasons to celebrate today when that institution’s Sportsman of the Year 2007/08, Nesta Carter, mined Olympic gold as part of the Men’s 4x100 metres world record-breaking team. Carter and UTech’s Sportswoman of the Year Shelly-Ann Fraser are Gold Medalists in their first Olympic Games.

Nesta Carter and Shelly-Ann Fraser were presented with the UTech Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year 2007/08 Awards at the University Students Awards Ceremony held at the National Indoor Sports Centre on April 10, 2008. Shelly-Ann Fraser is a student in the Faculty of Health and Applied Science, while Nesta Carter was enrolled in the School of Building.

Commenting on the splendid performances of UTech/MVP athletes in the Olympics, Professor the Hon. Errol Morrison, President of the University, said: “We are living up to our reputation as ‘The Home of World Class Athletes’. We are committed to providing the premier student athlete sport programme in the world and that is why Jamaica can now boast that so many of our top athletes are trained by Jamaicans while studying in Jamaica.”

Other outstanding UTech student athletes at the Beijing Olympics include:

  • Asafa Powell – Olympic 4x100 Gold Medalist and Former World Record Holder for Men’s 100 Metres

  • Sherone Simpson – Olympic Silver Medalist for Women’s 100 Metres

  • Shericka Williams – Olympic 400 Metres Silver Medalist

  • Markino Buckley – Olympic Finalist in Men’s 400 Metres Hurdle

  • Herbert McGregor – Olympic Long Jump

MVP Athletes who train at UTech include:

  • Melaine Walker – Olympic 400 Metre Hurdles Gold Medalist

  • Michael Frater – Olympic 4x100 Gold Medalist

  • Germaine Mason (England) – Olympic High Jump Silver Medalist

  • Daryl Brown (Trinidad & Tobago) – Olympic 100 Metres

  • Bridgette Foster-Hylton – Olympic 100 Metres Hurdles Finalist

  • Andre Wellington – Olympic 4x100 Metres Reserve

  • Usain Bolt, Olympic Triple Gold Medalist and Triple World Record Holder, is a past student of UTech

Anthony Davis, UTech’s Director of Sport, notes that “UTech/MVP athletes make up 22% of Jamaica’s team in China – athletes who are studying and/or training in Jamaica under the guidance of Jamaican coach Stephen Francis and our educators.”

Davis says that the performance of Jamaican athletes is a clear indication that Jamaica’s sport programme is now at a qualitatively higher level than it has ever been before. He states that UTech can now be considered a viable alternative to any overseas student/athlete programme and adds: “UTech stands committed to taking it even further by strengthening and expanding our sport programme. In keeping with that objective, we are forging new partnerships with the private sector and other institutions.”

Corporate Communication Unit
August 22, 2008

 

  

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