SHAYNE FAIRMAN, STAR writer

World Boxing Association (WBA) world featherweight champion, Nicholas 'Axeman' Walters, and world swimming champion, Alia Atkinson, are front-runners to claim the 2014 RJR Sports Foundation's Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, to be announced at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel tonight, starting at 7 p.m.

Walters and Atkinson have received popular feedback on their stellar and scintillating performances last year, which were consistent, outstanding, and showed sheer determination and resilience.

Walters, who swathed himself in international glory by winning the world title in 2012, is worthy favourite for the men's award.

The powerful, composed, and fast-emerging boxer, defended his WBA World Featherweight title in spectacular manner last year, outclassing Armenian boxer, Vic Darchinyan, by way of a sensational fifth-round knockout.

Nominees

Other outstanding nominees in the men's category include a quartet of Commonwealth Games gold medallists including: Kemar Bailey-Cole, Rasheed Dwyer, Andrew Riley, and O'Dayne Richards.

Olympian Atkinson, the joint-world record holder, headlines a list of eight women shortlisted for the women's award.

The prolific Jamaican swam to a world record-equaling 1:02.36 seconds in the 100m breaststroke, at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Doha, Qatar, in late December, becoming the first Jamaican, Caribbean, and black female swimmer to hold a world title and swimming record.

Atkinson could also become the first swimmer in 40 years to win the local accolade.

Belinda Phillips was the last swimmer to claim the prize in 1974. Cricketer Vivalyn Latty-Scott was the last winner in a non-athletic discipline, back in 1976.

Atkinson will rival track and field runners Kaliese Spencer, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Stephanie McPherson, Veronica Campbell-Brown, and triple jumper Kimberly Williams for the prize.

West Indies women's cricketer Stafanie Taylor is the other non-track athlete nominated.

Walters and Atkinson are also nominated for the People's Choice Performance of the Year award, as are World junior champion, Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's, for his impressive world junior leading time of 49.49 seconds in the 400m hurdles at Boys Champs 2014.

Footballer, Kemar Lawrence of Harbour View FC, who scored a spectacular free kick for Jamaica against Canada, cricketer, André Russell who played a valiant innings which helped the Jamaica Tallawahs to win a memorable game, courtesy of a last ball six in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 20/20 last year, and Clarendon College's Andrew Gutzmore for his long range goal against Glenmuir in the Ben Francis Cup are also nominated.