The RJR Sports Foundation has released the shortlist for the Men’s and Women’s Athletes of the Year Awards.

The men’s list is headlined by Antonio Watson, gold medalist in the 400 meters in the IAAF World Athletic Championship. He is joined by World Championships 110m hurdles silver medallist and Diamond League Champion Hansle Parchment, along with standout long jumpers Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle, the silver and bronze medallists from Budapest, as well as Pan American 400m hurdles champion Jaheel Hyde, and motorsports star Fraser McConnell.

The women’s list is headlined by Shericka Jackson, 200-meter gold medallist from Budapest and sprint double Diamond League winner in 2023. She is joined by Danielle Williams, who also mined gold in Budapest in the 100-meter hurdles: Rushell Clayton, who won a bronze medal in the 400 meters, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who added another individual bronze medal to her impressive global tally and Jhaniele Fowler, goal shooter from the Sunshine Girls.

Most glaring, however, is the exclusion of Reggae Girlz captain Khadija Shaw and the rest of the team.

In a year that saw Shaw captain the team to earn their historic World Cup qualification, the exclusion of the Girlz seems particularly questionable.

It is important to note that not only did Jamaica qualify, but the Reggae Girlz became the first senior team to have multiple World Cup berths, having previously qualified for the 2019 tournament as well.

More significantly, the team became the first in the Caribbean to qualify for the knock-out stages of the World Cup, a feat that was particularly impressive considering Jamaica was drawn in a group with global giants Brazil.

In fact, it was Jamaica’s 0-0 draw with the prolific Brazilians that eliminated the juggernauts from the competition.

Additionally, Shaw made the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or earlier this year for her prolific season in England’s top flight with Manchester City.

The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual accolade available for professional football players and Shaw became its first Jamaican, man or woman, to be nominated in the award’s history.

Shaw was one of just two players from the CONCACAF region shortlisted, alongside American forward Sophia Smith.

Shaw’s exclusion from the list has been noted by many Jamaicans as a slight against the striker.

“Imagine being nominated for an award that essentially states you’re among the greatest in the sport that season in the world, but your local award does not even nominate you”, noted one fan who spoke to Our Today.

Another suggested that to exclude Shaw and all the Reggae Girlz after such an impressive run “does not aid in developing female football and the interest for it in Jamaica. Jamaica did something historic in the World Cup under her leadership as captain. It is unfair”.

In considering who else could possibly have been given a nomination, it was also posited that perhaps the team’s goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer could have received a nod from the selection committee.

Spencer kept a clean sheet for all three group matches in the Women’s World Cup and was pivotal in the successful run to the Round of 16. It is important to mention that not all the nominees participate in individual events.

The Sunshine Girls captain Jhaniele Fowler was rightly nominated as well. Fowler was impressive this season in the Suncorp Super Netball League, as well as being a significant piece of the national team.

It is, therefore, safe to say that a major contribution to team sport is also considered as a basis for nomination.

With that in mind, it seems troubling that none of the Reggae Girlz, and Shaw in particular, have not attracted a nomination.

The winners of both Man and Woman Athlete of the Year, as well as People’s Choice Awards, will be announced at the annual ceremony scheduled for January 19, 2024.