A function will be held in Cromwell tomorrow night to announce the winner in each of six categories as well as the overall winner.
Top triathlete Nicky Samuels, of Wanaka, is a finalist again, along with snowsporters Taylor Rapley, Rebecca Sinclair and Janina Kuzma, stand-up paddleboarder Annabel Anderson and skeleton racer Katharine Eustace.
All Black Andrew Hore lines up against extreme free skier Jossi Wells, multisporter Dougal Allan, cyclist James Williamson and bowler Shaun Scott in the senior men's section.
Sport Central sports co-ordinator Bill Godsall said he believed this year's line-up was the best since the awards began seven years ago.
"The judges were blown away with the standard of the finalists and are struggling to select winners, with such a diverse selection of sports and the high standard achieved by the athletes," he said.
The guest speaker at the awards function will be cricketer Warren Lees, of Clyde, who was a New Zealand wicketkeeper and batsman and later coached the national side for three years.
The sports award finalists are.-Senior men: Jossi Wells, of Wanaka (snowsports), James Williamson, of Alexandra (cycling), Dougal Allan, of Wanaka (multisport adventure racing), Andrew Hore, of Maniototo (rugby), and Shaun Scott, of Cromwell (lawn bowls).
Senior Women: Janina Kuzma, of Wanaka (snowsports), Rebecca Sinclair, of Wanaka (snowsports), Nicky Samuels, of Wanaka (triathlon), Annabel Anderson, of Wanaka (stand-up paddleboard), Taylor Rapley, of Queenstown (snowsports), and Katharine Eustace, of Wanaka (skeleton racing).
Junior men: Byron Wells, of Wanaka (snowsports), Tom Vessey, of Alexandra (cycling), Hank Bilous, of Hawea Flat (snowsports, paddling, rugby), Finn Butcher, of Alexandra (slalom kayaking) and Callum Burns, of Queenstown (ice hockey).
Junior women: Maddison Rose Nolet, of Wanaka (netball), Emma Paton, of Cromwell (swimming), Sophie Williamson, of Alexandra (cycling), Lucy Robbins, of Queenstown (netball), Nikayla Bolch, of Cromwell (swimming), Holly Wigg, of Wanaka (karate), and Anna Leat, of Queenstown (karate).
Coach of the year: Tom Wilmott, of Wanaka (snowsports), Bruce Wells, of Wanaka (snowsports), Sally and Glenn Hart, of Alexandra (gymsports), Martyn Williamson, of Alexandra (cycling), Val Burke, of Wanaka (multisports), and Phil Markham, of Queenstown (football).
Team of the year: Central Otago Under-10, representative soccer team, Wakatipu High School A soccer team, Central Otago members of New Zealand men's curling team.
