Jackson World Athlete of the Year nomination a prelude to big fight

WHILE SHERICKA Jackson’s nomination for the 2023 Women’s World Athlete of the Year award is good news, the Jamaican will find herself in an almighty fight with some of the outstanding names on the list of nominees.

The Jamaican, who specialises in the 100 and 200 metres, was in the best form of her life this past season, where she went unbeaten in the half-lap event. She captured the gold medal at the Budapest World Athletics Championships in the 200 metres, clocking a personal best 21.41 seconds for the second fastest time ever by a female in the event.

In addition, the Paul Francis-coached athlete finished second in the 100 metres final in Budapest and closed out her season with the Diamond League sprint double.

The list of nominees was dominated by athletes on the track but there were three field event athletes.

While the United States Sha’Carri Richardson, who was only beaten twice this season over her favoured 100 metres, where she clocked a world lead equalling 10.65 seconds, the real challengers for the Jamaican come from Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who broke world records at a mile, 1500 metres and over 5,000 metres this season, as well as the Netherland’s Femke Bol, who had a world indoor 400-metre record as well as won the Budapest World Championships in the same event.

TWO WORLD TITLES

Of course there is the ever-present Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas, who was crowned World and Diamond League champion with the world lead, and Ethipia’s Tsegay Gudaf, who not only won the world title over 10,000 metres this year, but also won the 5000 metres Diamond League title in a world record.

A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube this week. A ‘like’ on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube or a retweet on X will count as one vote.

The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public’s votes will each count for 25% of the final result.

Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Saturday, October 28. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five male finalists will be announced by World Athletics from November 13-14.

The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms on December 11

Women’s World Athlete of the Year nominees

Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon

· Berlin marathon winner

· World marathon record

Femke Bol, NED, 400m/400m hurdles

· World 400m hurdles champion

· World indoor 400m record

Shericka Jackson, JAM, 100m/200m

· World 200m champion and 100m silver medallist

· Diamond League 100m and 200m champion

Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m

· World 1500m and 5000m champion

· World records at 1500m, mile and 5000m

Haruka Kitaguchi, JPN, javelin

· World champion

· Diamond League champion

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR, high jump

· World champion

· Diamond League champion

Maria Perez, ESP, race walk

· World 20km and 35km race walk world champion

· World record at 35km race walk

Gudaf Tsegay, ETH, 5000m/10,000m

· World 10,000m champion

· Diamond League 5000m champion with world record

Sha’Carri Richardson, 100m/200m

· World champion at 100m

· World bronze medallist at 200m

Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump

· World champion

· Diamond league champion

Winfed Yavi, BRN, 3000m steeplechase

· World champion

· Diamond League champion with world lead