2011 World Athletics Gala Logo (© IAAF)
CarloA thrower, a sprint hurdler and a long distance runner: that is the lineup of the women athletes who are still in contention to become the 2011 World Athlete of the Year. All three have won at least one World Championships title in Daegu and broken at least one National record in 2011.
For the first time in the history of the World Athletics Gala, two girls from Oceania are among the finalists: Valerie Adams of New Zealand added yet another Shot Put title and achieved the best throw in 11 years as Australia’s Sally Pearson conquered the 100m Hurdles title in Daegu with the fastest time recorded in 19 years!
Vivian Cheruiyot on the other hand became only the second woman ever to win the 5000 and 10,000m World Championships double in a year where she previously won the World Cross Country Championships as well. Cheruiyot – who turns 28 today! – would become the first ever Kenyan woman to win the World Athlete of the Year Award after David Rudisha became the first man in 2010.
Whoever wins on Saturday, it will be a first as no other Australian or New Zealander has ever won the World Athlete of the Year title since the Award was introduced back in 1988.
Let’s take a look back at each of their individual achievements of the season…
Finalists are: (in alphabetical order)
Women
Valerie Adams New Zealand
Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya
Sally Pearson Australia
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Valerie Adams
27 years old
o Won the Shot Put World Championships title in Daegu
o Set a National and Area record 21.24, the longest throw in 11 years!
o Has remained undefeated in 16 finals (since 22 August 2010)
Vivian Cheruiyot
28 years old (today!!)
o Won the 5000 and 10,000 World Championships titles in Daegu
o Won the World Cross Country Championships title in Punta Umbria
o Set the fastest times of the Year at 3000 and 5000m
Sally Pearson
25 years old
o Won the 100m Hurdles World Championships title in Daegu
o Set a National and Area record 12.28, the fastest time in 19 years!
o Has won 15 of 16 races (including heats) in 2011
The winners of the 2011 World Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced live, on stage, during the 2011 World Athletics Gala, which will take place in Monaco, on 12 November 2011.
