Fraser-Pryce makes final cut for Athlete of the Year
Published:Tuesday | November 15, 2022 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The top individual award in athletics is still up for grabs for multiple World and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Fraser-Pryce was named among the five finalists for the World Athletics 2022 Female Athlete of the Year award by the sport’s governing body yesterday after a season which saw her claim her fifth world 100m title and produced stunning fast times at the age of 35. World 200 metres champion Shericka Jackson, who was on the 10-person shortlist last month for her maiden championship record performance at the World Athletic Championships this summer, did not make the final cut.
The other finalists for the award include World and Olympic 400m hurdles champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States, World 100m hurdles champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, World and Olympic triple jump champion,Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas and World 20K walk champion, Kimberly Garcia of Peru
Fraser-Pryce last won the award in 2013 and could join former Olympic champions Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia and Americans Sanya Richards-Ross and Marion Jones as athletes who have won the award multiple times. Isinbayeva has the most wins with three. No Jamaican athlete has won the award more than once.
When the shortlist of nominees was revealed last month, local coaches were of the impression that it is the strongest field of candidates in years with a tough path for Fraser-Pryce with both McLaughlin-Levrone and Amusan breaking world records this year.
However, former World 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton said last month that Fraser-Pryce stands a good chance of winning based on a body of work that saw her near unstoppable in 2022.
“I think whoever wins will be very deserving of the award. I’ve very proud of her. She has done so much. No one in history has ever done what she has done. So she stands a very good chance,” Foster-Hylton said.
Fraser-Pryce clocked seven sub-10.7 second times this season including her 10.67 championship record performance at the World Championships in Eugene. Even with McLaughlin-Levrone lowering the world record twice to staggering levels, the final one being in Eugene in 50.68 and Amusan’s surprising 12.12 in the semifinals, Foster-Hylton says that the prestige of the sprint and her dominance in it give her an edge.
“It’s the event that everyone goes to the World Championships or the Olympics to see. I think her being so dominant puts her in good standing. Yes, they have broken the world record but the fact that she has dominated the 100m, that is outstanding,” Foster-Hylton said.
The winner will be announced at the World Athletic Awards on December 5
Finalists for 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – Jamaica
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – USA
Kimberly Garcia – Peru
Yulimar Rojas – Venezuela
Tobi Amusan – Nigeria