Richards wins yet again, Ramharack named Sportswoman of the Year

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

SPRINTER JEREEM Richards copped his fourth First Citizens Sportsman of the Year award, while cricketer Karishma Ramharack was named Sportswoman of the Year during the award ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday.

It was Richards’ third major award since December after also being named Senior Male Athlete by the National Administration of Athletic Associations (NAAATT) and Senior Sportsman by the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC).

While the win came as no surprise for Richards, who also took home the award in 2017, 2018 and 2022, it was the first for Ramharack, who also became the first cricketer to win the award since former West Indies batsman Brian Lara won the last of his awards in 2005.

The 31-year-old Richards had a stellar 2024, which saw him finish fourth in the 400 metres at the Paris Olympics in a time of 43.78 seconds, a new national record.

Additionally, he reached the semifinal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and recorded third-place finishes at the Diamond League meetings in London (44.18) and Rome (44.55), along with a 200-metre victory (20.19) in Luzern on the Continental Tour’s silver level.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Ramharack, an off-spinner, helped West Indies to the semifinals of the World Cup, capturing six wickets at an average of 13.83.

Her best performance came against Bangladesh, where she claimed 4-17 to earn the West Indies an eight-wicket victory.

Ramharack was also outstanding during the One Day International series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Among the Youth Awards, the sport of cycling dominated with Jelani Nedd and Makaira Wallace taking home the Youth Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year awards, respectively.