VCB vies for IAAF World Athlete tonight
MONACO — The best male and female athlete in track and field for 2010 will be named tonight at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Gala at the Salles des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Ete here.
Jamaica’s reigning World 60m Indoor champion Veronica Campbell Brown is on the shortlist of five female nominees that includes British heptathlete Jessica Ennis, Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic, Commonwealth Games 3000m Steeplechase winner Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya and American 200m/400m runner Allyson Felix.
It is safe to say Ennis, who is not in Monaco this weekend, will not be taking home the top prize when the winner is announced at 7 o’clock.
None of the nominees has ever won the award, though Vlasic came closest in 2007 and 2009.
Among the men, the front-runner is Kenya’s David Ridusha who twice set world records over 800m this year.
Rudisha also claimed the African Championships title and was unbeaten in 11 finals and four preliminary races in his event.
The other male nominees are American 110-metre hurdler David Oliver, the fastest man over 100m this year Tyson Gay, Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen and Eritrean long distance specialist Zersenay Tadese.
Only Gay has ever previously taken the award, having won in 2007.
If Campbell-Brown wins, she will become the first Jamaican woman to do so since Merlene Ottey in 1990.
The men’s list is more impressive with two Jamaicans having won three times. Asafa Powell claimed the Male Athlete of the Year crown in 2006, while Usain Bolt won in 2008 and 2009.