Nassau BAH - On Friday, December 28th the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations named novice High Jumper and World Champion Donald Thomas the winner of the 2007 Charlie Major Award.

The award is named after Bahamian High Jumper Charley Major who dominated the event in the United States some seventy years ago.

Two thousand and seven was a banner year for Bahamian Track and Field. Nivea Smith made history when she won a bronze medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, becoming the first Bahamian to win a medal in this event, the only world event that the country had not won a medal in up to this time. Smith, from Grand Bahama, also won the 200m at the Carifta Games in the Turks and Caicos Islands in April and anchored the 400m relay to victory. For her accomplishments she was named Female Junior Athlete of 2007.

Donald Thomas also captured the Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award. He was named the IAAF’s Newcomer of the Year at the Gala in Monaco in November. He beat out Derrick Atkins, 2007 World Championships 100m Silver medalist, and Pan Am Games 400m champion Chris Brown, who also anchored the Bahamas’ 1600m relay team that won the Silver medal in Osaka.

Jamal Wilson who was the Pan Am Jr. Champion in the High Jump was earned the Jr. Male Athlete award. He established a new Carifta Games record as well as a new Bahamian Jr. Record.

Sprinter Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was chosen as the top Senior Bahamian Female of 2007. Ferguson made a special address at the banquet. She was quite provocative and passionate and encouraged all the stakeholders in Bahamian Track and Field to do more.

The Henry Crawford Award which recognizes the Coach of the Year was presented to Ronald Cartwright, the coach of Jr. Male Athlete of the Year Jamal Wilson.

Angela Rolle received the Roderick Simms Award for Official of the Year.

Special Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Coach Keith Parker, OBE, and Ronald Cartwright. Former Prime Minister Perry Christie who was the first Bahamian to win a field event for the Bahamas in international competition spoke on Parker’s behalf.

The Year End Gala was held at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort on Cable Beach. It was held under the patronage of former IAAF Council Member and former federation president Alpheus Finlayson and his wife Dawn Finlayson.