The Cook Islands netball team won their first Pacific Games title in nearly 30 years in 2019 ©Getty Images

The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) has released the nominations for 11 awards to be presented at the Cook Islands Sports Awards later this year.

Three sections will make up the awards, with Section A comprising of sportsman and sportswoman of the year and junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year.

Section B will feature team of the year and sports achievement of the year, with Section C will made up of technical awards including coach of the year. 

Middle-distance runner Alex Beddoes is one of the favourites to win sportsman of the year after winning two gold medals at last year's Pacific Games in Samoa.

The Cook Islands national rugby league team are among the sides nominated for the team of the year award ©CISNOC
The Cook Islands national rugby league team are among the sides nominated for the team of the year award ©CISNOC

Swimmer Wesley Roberts won the country's first medal in swimming at last year's Pacific Games, winning four in total.

The other two nominees are Andre Tutaka-George, a canoeist, and Brad Takairangi, who helped the Cook Islands qualify for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Netballer Luciana Nicholas will be among the favourites for the sportswoman of the year award after helping her team win the Cook Islands' first Pacific Games netball title in 28 years.

Jane Nicholas, one of the island's top canoeists, weightlifting's Matanoko McDonald and swimmer Kirsten Fisher-Marsters are also nominated for the prize.