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Youth Excellence Awards

Award: Youth Athlete of the Year

Award Description: The Youth Athlete of the Year Award honors a remarkable young athlete who has shown outstanding skill, commitment, and sportsmanship throughout the season. This esteemed award celebrates a player whose individual brilliance and contributions have made a significant impact in his/her sporting discipline.

Biographies of Nominees

Shafiqua Maloney 

Shafiqua Maloney is an elite middle-distance runner, currently based in Arkansas, USA. She is a 4x national record holder in the women’s 800m, also holding the national record in the 1500m and indoor 800m. Shafiqua has represented her country at top international competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics (4th, 800m), the 2025 WANDA Diamond League Finals (4th, 800m), and the NACAC Open Championships (Silver, 800m). She has also earned medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, NCAA Championships, and CARIFTA Games. Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Master of Science in Operations Management.

Handal Roban 

Handal Roban is a world-class middle-distance runner, currently studying Social Sciences (Psychology) at Penn State University. He is a 4x national record holder in the men’s 800m and has earned multiple NCAA honors, including 3x First Team All-American, 2x USTFCCCA All-American, Big Ten Champion, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Handal has represented St. Vincent internationally, winning gold at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, NACAC U-23 Championships, and NACAC Open Championships, setting the national men’s 800m record (1:42.87). He also competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics and qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Academically, he has been recognized on the Penn State and Jamaica College Dean’s Lists.

Steven Pierre

Steven Pierre is a talented Vincentian footballer who plays as a forward and attacking midfielder. Known for his exceptional speed, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, he currently represents the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Football Team, the Vincy Heat, where he has scored four goals during his tenure. At the club level, he plays for Jebelle FC, contributing significantly to their success in local competitions. His technical skill, stamina, and strategic play make him a dynamic presence both domestically and internationally.

Pierre’s football journey is marked by impressive achievements, including winning the SVG National Club Championship with Jebelle FC and the Windward Islands Captain Competition. He has proudly represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, CONCACAF Nations League matches, and Gold Cup Preliminary Rounds, consistently proving his value as a key attacking player.

Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Pierre has demonstrated strong leadership as captain of the SVG National Windward Island School Games Team. His experiences in this role have strengthened his communication, emotional intelligence, and ability to motivate teammates under pressure. Looking ahead, he aspires to compete professionally at the highest level, pursue certifications in teaching and coaching, and eventually establish a sports academy to nurture young athletes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines while contributing to national sports development and job creation.

Shaquana Jacobs 

Shaquana Jacobs is a Vincentian track and field athlete specializing in the sprints — 100m, 200m, and 400m. A student of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, she has emerged as one of the nation’s most promising young sprinters, known for her leadership, consistency, and versatility across sprint events. In 2025, she proudly serves as captain of the female athletics team representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Windward Islands School Games.

Jacobs has achieved remarkable success on both the national and regional stages. Internationally, she placed 4th in the 400m at the 2025 CARIFTA Games in Trinidad with a personal best of 56.54 seconds, won gold in the 200m at the 2022 Friendly Games in Martinique, and secured silver in the 100m at the 2022 Whitsuntide Games in Grenada. At the national level, she was crowned the 2025 National Track and Field Champion and earned the titles of Senior Champion and Victrix Ludorum in 2024, as well as Intermediate Champion and Victrix Ludorum in 2023 at the Inter-Secondary School Athletics Championships.

As team captain, Jacobs exemplifies determination, discipline, and team spirit, inspiring her peers both on and off the track. With personal bests of 12.19s in the 100m, 25.15s in the 200m, and 56.54s in the 400m, she continues to push her limits. Her long-term goal is to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the world stage at events such as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games, while balancing academic excellence and serving as a role model for young athletes across the region.

Uroy Ryan

Uroy Ryan is a Vincentian long jumper and student-athlete pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences at Kansas State University. Known for his power and precision, he has represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines at top regional and international meets, earning multiple medals and setting national records.

Ryan is a four-time CARIFTA Games competitor, winning bronze in 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica. He also earned bronze at the 2021 NACAC U18 Championships and placed 4th at the 2023 NACAC U23 Championships. That same year, he made the finals at the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia. While at Jamaica College, he broke the school’s long jump record and earned medals at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships.

At Kansas State, Ryan has competed in both NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, finishing 5th and 9th respectively. He currently holds the Vincentian junior national long jump record (7.80m) and senior men’s indoor record (7.88m). His goal is to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2028 Olympic Games, and future World Championships.

Kennice Greene

Kennice Greene is a dedicated and disciplined student-athlete from Biabou, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who excels both academically and athletically. A proud member of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Swim Team and the Black Sands Swim Squad, she represents her country with determination, sportsmanship, and pride. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in General Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Kennice successfully balances her studies with the demands of collegiate swimming.

She graduated from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College in June 2025, completing four CAPE subjects with strong academic results while maintaining her athletic commitments. A 2023 graduate of the Girls’ High School, she wrote 13 CSEC subjects, passing Mathematics in 2022.

As an active national swimmer, Kennice has represented her country in numerous regional and international competitions, contributing to team success through both individual and relay events. Within the Black Sands Swim Squad, she also mentors younger swimmers and fosters a sense of teamwork. Passionate about youth empowerment, Kennice continues to lead by example, promoting healthy lifestyles and academic excellence among young athletes in her community.