AMUSAN, FRASER-PRYCE IN FINAL SHORT LIST ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan who smashed the women’s record in 100m hurdles at this year’s World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon is among the finalists for the Women’s World Athlete of The Year.

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce joins Amusan on the list for the award, also America’s Sydney Mclaughlin 400m hurdles gold medallist, Venezuelan triple jump world record holder Yulimar Rojas and Peruvian race walk double champion Kimberly Garcia are among the finalists.

Amusan who was sterling in performance this year has dominated the women’s 100m hurdles, setting a world record time of 12.12seconds in the semi- finals of the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon in July before winning the gold the final in a time of 12.06second (but wind assisted).

The Nigerian sprint star is also the current Diamond League, Commonwealth and African 100m hurdles champion.

Jamaica’s Fraser- Pryce who won a record fifth world 100m titles and quest which strengthened her claim to be regarded as the best women’s sprinter of all time is a top contender for the award. The 35 year-old who sparkled to victory at World Athletics Championships and the fourth- fastest ever women’s 100m of 10.82 seconds at the Diamond League in Monaco, could spring a surprise winning the award, she super performer achieving in a season a record seven sub-10.70times.

Peru’s Kimberly Garcia 20km race walk world gold champion and first ever World Championship gold medal winner at the championship makes the finalists. The 29 year-old also set a South American record in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 16 seconds to claim the 35km race to become double world champion.

While, 23 year-old American McLaughlin who shattered her own record off her previous best time at the a championship to claim the world 400m hurdles gold in 50.68 seconds to mark a brilliant season joins the finalists. She also won gold at the championship with almost three-quarters of a second off her previous best time at the championship to win gold in 4x 400m.

Venezuelan Rojas, who set a new world record of 15.74m to win the gold medal in the triple jump at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March also in the finalists. The 27 year-old also won her third straight outdoor world title at the world event, winning the gold in Eugene, Oregon in July.