You would think that in a year dominated by the World Championships--both in anticipation and in actuality--it would be easy to choose my Athletes of the Year.
Simply look to who broke records, won Golds, shocked and soared!
But, if you read my WC wrap-up, then you know that meet wasn't what it should have been, or could have been!
That said, here's my picks for AOY, Performance of the Year, Event of the Year, and Personalities of the Year!
Athlete of the Year--Men
World--AYANLEH SOULEIMAN
He took down one of the legendary WR's--that being Wilson Kipketer's 2:14.96 in the 1000. So how does the PERFORMANCE of the Year (See below!) translate to ATHLETE of the Year? Simple--by default!
There was simply no one else who TRULY stood out. No one really dominated--from December through mid-March!
But Honorable Mentions should go to Renaud Lavillenie, Matthew Centrowitz, Omar McLeod, Boris Berian, and Ashton Eaton.
USA--MATTHEW CENTROWITZ
I gave him my AOY more for his Millrose Mile win than for his WC 1500 Gold! His 3:50.63 Wanamaker was the fastest Mile, and was run in a GREAT race with Nick Willis! I gave a few minutes thought to Sam Kendricks, whose 19-4.75 PV is the best by an American in awhile, not to mention his medaling in the WC!
Honorable Mentions go to Kendricks, and to Ryan Crouser, as well as Trayvon Bromell, Boris Berian, and Ashton Eaton.
Collegiate--RYAN CROUSER
He tied one of the better CR's, that of his namesake, Ryan Whiting! At that time, it ranked as the best in the World! Other than Brannon Kidder in the 1000, it was the only CR this year!
Besides Kidder, other Honorable Mentions go to both Ronnie Baker and Cameron Burrell, as well as Donavan Brazier, and Ed Cheserek (Mainly for his Millrose 3000!).
High School--DREW HUNTER
Who else?? His TWO sub-4 Miles not only broke Alan Webb's HSR, but he got TWO 1500 HSR's, as well as Ed Cheserek's 3000 mark! But beyond the Records, he brought attention to the sport from outside the realm of the Fan Geeks!
But this year was busy in the HSR department, so my Honorable Mentions list is also long!
Begin with Grant Holloway and Noah Lyles, but don't end there.
Add Mondo Duplantis, Tyrese Cooper, Bobby Colantonio, and Jordan Geist!
Athlete of the Year--Women
World--GENZEBE DIBABA
When you break the MILE World Record by 3.83 seconds--in a solo run!--and know you're capable of taking ANOTHER 3.83 seconds off THAT time, then that makes THIS choice the easiest!
She backed it up with her 8:22.50 in the 3000, as well as her WC Gold.
Honorable Mentions go to Barbara Pierre, both for her fast times, and for her beating Dafne Schippers at the WC, and to Jenn Suhr, Brittney Reese, Michelle Carter, Brianne Thiesen-Eaton, and Vashti Cunningham.
USA--MICHELLE CARTER
She shattered the AR, beat Valerie Adams, and won WC Gold in dramatic last round fashion!
But she had stiff competition for this award.
Jenn Suhr's WR (and US Record!), as well as her year-long dominance (Except at USATF!), and WC win over a VERY strong field narrowly missed getting her my AOY!
So give her First Place on my Honorable Mentions list!
But others go to Raven Saunders, Barbara Pierre, Natasha Hastings, Molly Huddle, Vashti Cunningham, Brittney Reese, Sandi Morris, and Kendell Williams!
Collegiate--RAVEN SAUNDERS
This was a CLOSE one!! This HS and Collegiate LEGEND has broken more records in her event in a relatively short period of time than most--if not everyone!
The fact she's just a Sophomore adds to her brilliance!
But she had INTENSE competition for this award!
Another Soph--Keturah Orji--dominated HER event maybe even more than Saunders did this year! (Although that says more about the relative WEAKNESS of her opponents than Orji's greatness!)
If Orji had broken the CR, and/or WON Gold in Portland, this Award would be her's!
Honorable Mentions--besides Orji--go to Angel Piccirillo, Molly Seidel, Raevyn Rogers, Quenesha Burks, Kendell Williams, and to new 15 foot PV'ers Lexi Weeks and Megan Clark!
But a very special HM goes to Akela Jones! (See my Performance of the Year below!)
High School--TONEA MARSHALL
THIS was TOUGH!!!!
How do you pick one HSR over another? Especially when ALL of them either broke Records of Legends, won at the World Championships, or so impressed by their poise, maturity, and UNMET potential!!
You had Vashti Cunningham who, in her FIRST year INdoors, broke the HSR, won Gold against World Class competition, and then turned Pro!
You had Sydney McLaughlin, who ran 51.84 for the HSR, then one hour later, Relayed a 51.65!!
You had Katie Rainsberger, who while NOT getting the HSR, DID knock out two iconic CLASS Records--those of Lynn Jennings from 1978!!
But I finally gave it to Marshall because she broke Dior Hall's HSR TWICE!!
She ran a fast 8.16 in the heats at NBIN, then got HSR's in the semis (8.08) and final (8.02)!!
Performance of the Year--Men
World--Souleiman's 2:14.20 in the 1000.
A few A-T Greats in the 800--including David Rudisha!--had attempted to break Kipketer's WR--and failed!
Souleiman succeeded!
Award to him!
The only other WR was the 500 of Abdelelah Haroun.
Yes, he was the first to break one minute, but that event is so rarely run that it was an easy pick for Souleiman's more popular event!
USA--Centrowitz's Millrose Mile of 3:50.63.
It was against a fierce competitor, and in the legendary Wanamaker race!
Some weight was given to Kendricks's PV and to Crouser's SP.
Collegiate--Ryan Crouser's 71-3.50 tying of Ryan Whiting's CR!
Brannon Kidder got the CR in the 1000, but that event's CR is still too soft a mark for Kidder to get this award!
High School--Hunter's 3:57.81 Mile (and 3:41.83 1500).
I could as easily given it to his FIRST sub-4:00--the 3:58.25--but the former came against a much better field at the Millrose Games!
It was similar to when Alan Webb got the OUTdoor HSR's against Hicham El Guerrouj in the Prefontaine Classic!
But given VERY serious consideration was Noah Lyles's 20.63 in the NBIN 200!
He removed the X-Man from the Record Book!!
Xavier Carter's 20.69 had acquired the status of UNBREAKABLE!!
Duplantis's HSR in the Vault--the first HS 18-footer INdoors--got a few votes!
Performance of the Year--Women
World--Dibaba's Mile!
Case closed!
(You can add her 3:56.46 1500 enroute!)
US--Carter's WC 66-3-75 win in the SP!
For all the reasons given above--the Record AND the WC Gold!
Suhr's 16-6 was GREAT, but the PV was so LOADED this year, and Suhr's POTENTIAL so unmet, that the edge was given to Carter's throw!
Collegiate--Akela Jones's Big 12 meet!!
She won THREE events--and two of them were Collegiate leaders at the time.
8.00 in the 60H, 22-1.75 in the LJ, and 6-4 in the HJ!
While her NCAA Pentathlon fell apart, she tied the CR in the HJ, and tied the Collegiate-leading LJ mark during her DNF in the Pent!
Picirrillo's 1000 CR was given STRONG consideration, but that CR is still fairly weak!
And of course, you can't overlook Saunders's CR in the Shot Put!
High School--Cunningham's 6-6.25 HJ!
The WC Gold came AFTER the NBIN, and added little to my decision!
Katie Rainsberger's removing TWO Class Records dating from 38 years back was given much consideration, but a HSR trumps Class Records!
I also liked McLaughlin's 51.84 HSR. If Relay legs were included, this award would probably be McLaughlin's, for her entire NBIN roster of events!
Event of the Year--Men
World--1000 and SP
The breaking of the 1K WR, and the depth of the SP made this choice simple.
Even in the 1000, we saw 3 men make my Top 24 World list!
USA--3000
SEVEN guys made my US DDD in 2016.
No American Record, but the depth was incredible!
Collegiate--the 60 and the 800
The fast times of Baker and Burrell, as well as Christian Coleman's 6.52, gave the shortest race this prize.
But the 800 saw FIVE guys make my Top 24 Collegiate list this year!
High School--the 200 and the Mile
Hunter WAS the Mile!!
And Noah Lyles WAS the 200.
But the greater depth in the 200 (4 on my list, as opposed to 3 in the Mile!) offset the VALUE given to Hunter's TWO HSR's!
Event of the Year--Women
World--the 5000 and the Pole Vault
No WR in the distance event, but my World (and US) lists were drastically revised!!
The Vault got the WR, AND great depth!
But the latter has been the dominant event for at least the past two years, while the 5K is rarely run INdoors!
US--same as the World--the PV and the 5000!
For the same reasons!
Except Huddle didn't get Shalane Flanagan's AR!
ELEVEN 5K marks made my US list in 2016.
NINE marks in the PV did!
Collegiate--the 5000
Yes, the PV saw two additions to the Collegiate 15-foot list!
The 5000 saw "just" 3 additions to my Collegiate list, while the PV got SEVEN!
So why did I give it to the 5000 alone?
Lexi Weeks's and Megan Clark's 15+ Vaults stayed behind Demi Payne's and Sandi Morris's marks from 2015.
Molly Seidel ran TWO times in the 5K that placed high on the 5000 list!
HS--the 60H
Just reread my Women's NBIN report!
Again, case closed!
The Mile had those sub-4:40's, but they should have been faster!
I gave a bit of weight to the 1000, with Kate Murphy's and Sammy Watson's 2:45+ times!
IF either one had broken Sarah (Bowman) Brown's HSR--while I still would have chosen the 60H--the 1K would have gained a STRONG Honorable Mention!
Personality of the Year--Men
World--RENAUD LAVILLENIE
If you watched the livestream of the WC Pole Vault, you'd know why I gave Renaud this award!
For two hours--give or take--PRIOR to his opening height!--he sat!
Or stood.
And chatted.
And smiled.
No other person so FILLED a room at the WC without DOING his event!!
I gave some weight to Ashton Eaton, but his image was so all-pervasive--that it began to actually DRAIN some of the energy from the arena!!
At least it did that for me!
But Lavillenie's effect was all positive!
US--ASHTON EATON
DESPITE what I said above, there was no getting around the fact that Eaton (AND his wife!! See my Women's Personality of the Year!!) DOMINATED not only his event, but the entire World Championships!!
Collegiate--DONAVAN BRAZIER
He was the shocker of the year--running a Frosh Class record in the 800--that stood up as the fastest of the year!
But it was all the CHATTER about him that gives him this award!
You would have thought he had re-invented the wheel!
High School--DREW HUNTER
Confident in his demeanor, and brilliant in his ability, and a stand-out with his red hair, this award was made easier by his seeming nonchalance in his interviews after his Records!
Not arrogant or self-congratulatory, he handled his new-found fame with a humble gracious attitude.
The Lyles Brothers--both Noah and Josephus--were a bit too loud and jovial in their interviews.
Good guys, but they need to tone it down a bit!
Personality of the Year--Women
World--GENZEBE DIBABA
Despite all my negative-sounding editorial posts, I really do NOT enjoy being negative, especially against someone I've never met, and never will!
Thus my decision to PASS on Brianne Thiesen-Eaton as my Personality of the Year bothers me!
She SEEMS like a very likeable woman!
And you rarely see a more in love couple than the Eatons--seen worldwide for millions to observe!
But again, they just were TOO all-pervasive at the WC's!
Too much of a good thing is---too much!!
Thus this award goes to Dibaba, whose radiant beauty, and athletic perfection so dominate the Track portion of T&F!
US--SANDI MORRIS
While Jenn Suhr is the better Vaulter (in most categories--for now!), Morris's Personality shines through her every movement!
Whether in her event, or on Twitter & Instagram, or maybe especially on her funny and entertaining YouTube videos (with her snakes!!), Morris takes over your mind and your heart!
Similar to Lolo Jones and Maggie Vessey (among others!), she'd be popular even if she WASN'T a World Class PV'er!!
Collegiate--RAVEN SAUNDERS
There's other Collegiate Women as talented, but none (that I've seen!) FILL a room as Saunders does!
(And no, I'm NOT talking about her SIZE!!!)
She gets in that ring, and you just wait for the EXPLOSION that follows!
But it's in her interviews, and on social media, where her Personality shines through the best!
She's super confident, without being obnoxious.
She's loud and brash, without being all ME all the time!
I just LIKE the girl--no apologies!!
High School--VASHTI CUNNINGHAM
She doesn't talk much!
Even in her Pro-signing interview, with Mom and Dad sitting on each side, it was the parents who spoke the most!
During competitions, she rarely smiles and seems super intense!
After making a height, she's the antithesis of Blanka Vlasic's celebratory demonstrations!
But maybe THAT is what defines her!!
As a Pro now, she might change.
But for the 2016 HS INdoor season, she wins this award!
So how great WAS this 2016 season?
Let's take a look.
For the Men, we saw---
2 WR's
ZERO US records
2 Collegiate Records
SEVEN HSR's!
The Women saw---
2 WR's
3 US Records
4 Collegiate Records
6 HSR's!
That makes a Total of--
4 WR's
3 US Records
6 CR's
13 HSR's!!
Thus, the HS'ers prevailed!
My DDD list count was ALMOST the same as in 2015!!
In 2015,, I counted 373 marks from my 4 groups INdoors!
In 2016, I counted 1 less--372!
Here's the breakdown for this year!
World Men have 27 DDD marks!
World Women have 33.
US Men sees 36 DDD marks.
US Women have 72!!
Collegiate Men have 37 Top 24 Marks!
Collegiate Women see 58 marks!
HS Men have 48 DDD marks.
HS Women get 61.
The Men's Total is 148.
The Women's Total is 224!
The Grand Total, as noted, is 372.
Good, but coulda/shoulda/woulda been MUCH better IF----!!!
My "Best and Worst" comes next--possibly later today, but more likely tomorrow.
Then I'll have my OUTdoor Preview!!
Thursday?
See you all soon!
And thank you all for reading my blog!
I try to be 100% accurate, as well as entertaining!
If I can do better, please tell me how!
Or just comment on ANYthing you like!
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Fun post. Thanks! I'm glad to see that wPV figured in a lot of categories. They were just wonderful indoors this year. Jenn has never been better and Sandi, Demi, Ekatarina, Eliza, and several others made this event a total delight!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Silva will be back in top form outdoors. Murer seemed a bit down in Portland, but should be back at her peak for the outdoor season and Olympics, though she's 35 now (Jenn is 34 and doing fine!).
It will be a shame if they don't let Isinbayeva compete in the Olympics. The punishment of her is simply because she happens to be Russian. As one of the most high-profile track and field athletes in the world since 2004, I'm sure she's been drug tested about a zillion times and has never had a positive test. It's an injustice to ban her because of the guilt of others. Fortunately, the event is so strong now that it can withstand the loss of the best vaulter the event has ever seen and still be spectacular.
Thanks for noting Murer's age.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten that she just turned 35!!
With the OG in Rio, I expect Murer to shine the way the Brits did in London in 2012!
I expect her image to be EVERYwhere in that Carnival city this year!
As for Suhr, my only wish is that she remains healthy!
That "calf tightness" she mentioned at the WC is worrisome!
She seems to be injury prone!
It will be interesting to see who makes our team!
While we're all agreed that the faves are Suhr, Morris, and Payne, it wouldn't really shock me to see one of them NOT make it, while a "lesser"
vaulter prevails---maybe a Weeks girl, or Clark, or Nageotte or Hixson---or even Saxer or Steiner-Bennett!!
I guess that goes for EVERY event---the faves don't always make it!
Be back tomorrow with my Best & Worst!
You're right -- Jenn, Sandi, and Demi are the big stars of the event right now, but nothing is a lock. I hope they are the U.S. wPV team in Rio because they really are the best vaulters and I like them all so much. But the other names you mentioned are legitimate contenders and just as you said -- faves don't always make it, and taking all events into consideration, some definitely won't.
ReplyDeleteWomen's PV is a relatively new event and until now the U.S. has had only two really great vaulters -- Stacy Dragila and Jenn Suhr. Now, suddenly, we have three all at the same time! I think it's a bit of a long-shot, but the three American vaulters could sweep the medals in Rio.
And yes, Fabulous Fabiana will be plastered all over Rio, and that's cool because she's great. There will be a lot of pressure on her, but she will have enormous crowd support and she will be in top condition. I don't know if I'd be rooting for her to win, but I'd love to see her get a sixteen footer there.
I assume a glance at your DDD lists (both indoor and outdoor) would confirm that there are seven women in all of history who have cleared sixteen feet, and Fabiana is number eight -- the highest non-sixteen footer ever. (Please let me know if this is not correct.)I'm sure she would like to join the sixteen-foot club before she retires, and I hope she makes it!
I'll give you my Top 10 (more, if there are ties!) for INdoor and OUTdoor for the Women.
DeleteFor the purposes of my Book, I do ties by giving each athlete a separate place--instead of, say, listing it as 4th, (3 tied), 7th, 8th. Those 3 ties would be listed as 4th, 5th, 6th---in no particular order!
I know the discussion we had about this, inregards to tie-breaking in comps, but like I said, I do it this way to make it easier for me with my Book!!
INdoor
1. Suhr (16-6)
2. Isi (16-5.25)
3. Morris (16-2.75)
4. Payne (16-0.75)
5. Stefanidi (16-0.75)
6. Bradshaw (formerly Bleasdale) (15-11.75)
7. Rogowska (15-11)
8. Feofanova (15-11)
9. Murer (15-10)
10. Dragila (15-9.25)
11. Kiriakopoulou (15-9.25)
OUTdoor
1. Isi (16-7.25)
2. Silva (16-1.75)
3. Suhr (16-1.25)
4. Feofanova (16-0)
5. Murer (15-11)
6. Dragila (15-10)
7. Rogowska (15-10)
8. Kiriakopoulou (15-10)
9. Pyrek (15-9.75)
10. Spiegelberg (15-9.75)
Sorry for not giving the year they did their marks. I have it in my book, of course!
I'll tell you that OUTdoors, next on the list are a couple of 15-9's--Strutz and McCartney--and that, right now, Morris is only at 16th (tied with 1 other) with a 15-7.25!
But she'll probably raise that number in her first OUTdoor meet, and soon join the other 4 OUTdoor 16 footers!
About Morris, remember that in 2015, she was still a Collegian through the NCAA meet, then quickly turned Pro.
DeleteBut her best all year was that 15-7.25!
Your lists are correct. My memory was a bit faulty. I thought Fabiana had cleared 4.87 somewhere along the line, but her best is 4.85 (15-11, outdoor) as you've listed. Therefore number eight all-time (indoor and outdoor) is Holly Bradshaw with her 4.87 (indoor). She is the highest non-sixteen footer, not Murer as I thought earlier.
ReplyDeleteTo further broadcast my ignorance, I was thinking Silva had only a single sixteen footer, but she actually has two, 4.90 and 4.91 (both outdoor).
This means that only Feofanova and Stafanidi have single sixteen foot vaults on their resume. The other five sixteen footers all have multiple clearances of sixteen feet or more. Both of Sandi's sixteen footers came in the same meet (USATF indoor this year).
Love to tease, so apologies in advance!
ReplyDeleteBut I have some "bad" news about Desiree Freier!
I'll reveal what it is in my OUTdoor Preview post--maybe later today, but most likely tomorrow!
I will say this---it's NOT about an injury!!
Was just rereading my AOY post, and saw I'd made a MAJOR goof!!
ReplyDeleteI'd said that Kate Murphy had been the one to break Jennings's Class Records.
Nope!
It was Katie Rainsberger!!
Also, I corrected the LJ mark for Jones at the Big 12---I'd given her 2 inches more!!
Corrections made!!
Well, it looks like you're going to keep me guessing about Desiree Freier. I'm glad she's not injured, but I wonder what the other "bad news" might be?
ReplyDeleteThe bad news about Desiree is that she's too short! She's only 5' tall and that's far from ideal for a vaulter. She's done amazingly well in spite of this limitation, but I think her upside potential is limited by her short stature.
It should be noted that two of the seven women who have cleared 16' or more are only 5-3 tall (Feofanova and Silva). That's pretty amazing in itself, but 5-3 is still a lot better than 5-0.
Also, while Wikipedia lists Silva's height as 5-3, she always looked taller than that to me so I'm not sure if it's accurate. Do you have any information on Silva's height that might either corroborate or contradict the Wikipedia figure? And the figure for Feofanova may also be inaccurate. Wikipedia lists her as 5-3, but I remember earlier reports stating that she was 5-4, which is still short for a world-class vaulter. Both Jenn Suhr and Demi Payne are 6-0 tall. That's more like it!
My Athletics Annual book--in the Athlete Bios section--lists Feofanova as 1.64m or 5-4.50, and Silva as 1.69, or 5-6.50! The Index portion of the book (She's not in the Bio section!) lists Freier as 1.52, or 4-11.75!! This is in the 2015 edition.
ReplyDeleteThe figures you just quoted for Silva and Feofanova sound much more correct than those listed in Wikipedia. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo no 5-3 women over 16' -- no surprise.
If the 4-11.75 for Freier is accurate, she might hold the world record for vaulters under 5' tall (male or female). The only challenger I can think of might be Mondo Duplantis. I wonder how tall he was when he first made 15'? In spite of being a great prodigy, he was always quite small. He's only gotten his growth in the last year. And now he's an 18 foot vaulter!
ReplyDeleteHard to tell if Freier is really shorter than 5'. 1.52m is 4-11.84 inches, and rounds down to 4-11.75. However, it's likely that Freier was actually measured in feet and inches. Her height has always been reported as 5-0. If she was measured at 5-0, that converts to 1.524m, which would round down to 1.52m. So she may actually be five feet tall -- not under.
ReplyDelete