The Jamaicans are once again in a lane of their own as they lead the nominee race for the IAAF Awards that will be held in Barcelona, Spain on November 24.
Olympic gold medalists Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, as well as relay gold medalist Yohan Blake, are the Jamaicans that have been listed among the finalists for the IAAF male and female Athlete of the Year.
Bolt, who defended his sprint titles in the 100m and 200m race in the London Olympics, and Blake who won three medals in the London — silver in the 100m and 200m and gold in the 4x100m, along with Bolt — are among 10 male athletes nominated for the award.
Double distance Olympic medalist Mo Farah, Decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton and German Discus Olympic and European titleholder, Robert Harting has also been nominated for the award.
London Olympic winners Kirani James (400m/Grenada), Aries Meritt (110m Hurdles/USA), Renaud Lavillenie (Pole Vault/France) and Christian Taylor (Triple jump/USA) finish out the men’s list.
Fraser-Pryce, who preserved her title Olympic title in the 100m and added a silver medal in the 4x100m relay, is the only female athlete from the Caribbean to make the list.
She is joined by former winner Tirunesh Dibaba, 100m-hurdler Sally Pearson, Sanya Richard-Ross (400M/USA), Barbora Spotakova (javelin/Czech Republic), Yelena Lashmanova (20km race walking/Russia), Jessica Ennis (heptathlon/Britain), Valerie Adams (shot put/New Zealand), Allyson Felix (200m/USA) and Brittney Reese (long jump/USA) complete the women’s list.
There will be two rounds of voting, which will narrow both categories down to three finalists. There is a select group of people that are allowed to vote during the first round.
Those eligible to vote are IAAF and IAF Council Members, IAAF Member Federations, IAAF Committee and Commission Members, One-Day meeting directors, IAAF Ambassadors, athletes’ representatives, top athletes, selected international media and IAAF Staff Members.
The voting will close on October 28 and the top three finalists will be invited to the IAAF’s Gala in Barcelona in Gala. The technical committee will then make the final vote and decide the winners.
The Jamaicans have an opportunity to sweep both male and female athlete of the year, but are up against stiff competition.
