Mayers is 2010 National Sports Personality

Sprinter Natasha Mayers last Saturday night at the Media Centre of the Arnos Vale Sports Complex had the title of Sports Personality of the Year bestowed on her for the second occasion.{{more}}

Mayers, who also received the accolade in 2004, was the front runner in the race to the prestigious title when the National Sports Council staged the 2010 National Sports Awards.

The 31-year-old, who is based in California, the United States of America, gained the top prize at last Saturday’s ceremony on the back of her performance last year, when she earned a gold medal in the Women’s 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games held in India in October.

Mayers was also named the Senior Sportswoman for 2010 and added the International Sports Personality to her collection of awards.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT via telephone last Monday from her California home, Mayers said”: I am really ecstatic”.

Commenting on her second accolade of this nature, Mayers said that both have been equally gratifying.

“Every time you can be acknowledged for your efforts, it’s a great feeling for me,” Mayers stated.

“Well, I am basically in training for the World championships in August and the Pan American in October,” Mayers said, as she looked towards the rest of the year.

“I am grateful to the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, through the National Lotteries (Authority), for starting to assist me with my preparations,” Mayes revealed to SEARCHLIGHT.

She said, however, the input is a fraction of the funds needed to get fully prepared for outings of such magnitude.

She was also high in praise of her two current coaches, Lavell Davenport and Mahasse Cornelius, both of whom she said are working hard with her in her continued quest for further stardom.

Mayers, though, wants a greater effort be made in realizing a National Stadium for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, so that local athletes can get to train and compete on a synthetic track.

“That can do a lot for Track in St. Vincent and the Grenadines”, Mayers concluded.

The cause of Mayers’ limelight last Saturday evening was as a result of the high point of her professional career thus far, when she copped the first Track and Field medal for St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Commonwealth Games.

Mayers on Thursday, October 7, 2010, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Dehli, India, crossed the finish line in third position in 11.37 seconds.

But, Australian Sally Pearson, who finished first, was disqualified for a false start, and Osayemi Oludamola of Nigeria, who was second, was promoted to gold and Mayers to silver.

Another twist was to follow, when both of Oludamola’s drug tests samples were positive and she was stripped, thus landing Mayers the gold medal. (RT)