THE WAIS Junior Athlete of the Year award has received eight nominations for 2017 and will see a rich assortment of Western Australian talent vying for the prize.

Swim star Tamsin Cook has held the title for the past two years, but in 2017 a new name will be etched in WAIS history, with athletes from eight different sports earning selection on the shortlist.

World Championship medallists, burgeoning stars and young athletes who have broken through to the senior elite level over the past 12 months have all made an impact on the shortlist, with the award to be presented at next month’s WAIS Annual Awards at the Pan Pacific Perth.

The nominees for the 2017 WAIS Athlete of the Year are:
Sasha Zhoya (ATHLETICS)
Matt Richardson (CYCLING)
Nikita Hains (DIVING)
Georgia Wilson (HOCKEY)
Annabelle McIntyre and Bronwyn Cox (ROWING)
Nia Jerwood and Monique De Vries (SAILING)
Jemima Horwood (SWIMMING)
Tim Putt (WATER POLO)

With Australia promoting youth at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Tim Putt seized his opportunity to represent Australia with a series of composed performances defying his tender years.

The 18-year-old would go on to captain Australia’s junior team at the Junior World Championships in Serbia in August.