A 3.96 Grade Point Average(GPA) in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Spanish, as well as wins in the Women’s Triple Jump event at the 2023 American East Championships, has landed Leann Nicholas, the State University of New York (SUNY) Scholar- Athlete of the Year for Women’s Indoor Track and Field.

Nicholas, is a student of the Albany University in New York, USA.

In excess of 14 000 student – athletes are eligible for the SUNY awards. They are drawn from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1, 11 and 111; the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA); and the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association ( NJCAA) levels.

Born in the USA in 2003 to a Vincentian father, Learie Nicholas, Leann was part of a five member St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) team last August to the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia. It was her first outing for SVG.

She gained national selection having made the required standard for the Triple Jump at the 2022 Penn Relays, held at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

Nicholas won the women’s College event, with a leap of 14.87m.