2017 World & US Athletes of the Year--OUTdoors

This year's edition is expanded over previous editions!
(The added Awards will be announced at their due time!)
As always, however, I'll begin with a few late December marks from around the world!

Brian Herron "rust-busted" his season in Birmingham AL's Crossplex like few ever have!!
He ran 3 events, and in two of them, he became HS A-T 4th!!
His 46.43 in the 400 moves him from 6th to 4th, and gives him the Junior Class record!!
For his 200 of 20.95, it moves him from 17th A-T HS, tied with 3 others, to 4th!
He also sped a 60 in 6.95.

Other good marks--
Angelina Kusnova, a Russian, PV'ed 15-1
Mariya Lasitskene, another Russian, HJ'ed 6-6.75, then took a few swipes at the INdoor WR
And in 2 separate venues OUTdoors in Australia, Jordy Williamsz and Jordan Gusman ran 3:57 Miles (3:57.21 & 3:57.29, respectively)!

Now on to the AOY's, etc!

World Athlete of the Year--MEN
MUTAZ BARSHIM
This was not a clear victory!
Barshim was dominant & consistent, but the World HJ was a weak event this year!

Honorable Mentions
This list is long!
Christian Coleman & Justin Gatlin, Christian Taylor & Will Claye, Johannes Vetter & Thomas Rohler!
Sam Kendricks, Eliud Kipchoge, Emmanuel Korir, Fred Kerley, Kevin Mayer!
Pawel Fajdek, Omar McLeod, Karsten Warholm & Luvo Manyonga!
Ryan Crouser & Thomas Walsh.
Elijah Manangoi & Wayde Van Niekerk.

Special Mention
Yohan Deniz so completely dominated the WC 50K Walk that he easily could have won my AOY!!
His 3:33:12 was A-T Number 2, and it was negative split!!

US Athlete of the Year--MEN
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN
This one was close!!
T&FN gave it to Sam Kendricks!
Like Barshim, he was consistent & dominant, and was the only OUTdoor 6 meter guy!
But Coleman combined his WC Silver (beating Usain Bolt!) with his sensational NCAA double!!

Honorable Mentions
Kendricks, Gatlin, Crouser, Joe Kovacs, Taylor & Claye, Kerley, Galen Rupp, Evan Jager, and Kerron Clement!

World Athlete of the Year--WOMEN
MARIYA LASITSKENE
For the same reasons given for Barshim!
That both AOY's are HJ'ers SHOULD have made this the Year of the HJ--but again, the fields were generally not deep!
But in this Russian's case, she made so many WR attempts that it pushed her to the top!

Honorable Mentions
Mary Keitany & Tirunesh Dibaba
Ekaterina Stefanidi, Yulimar Rojas & Caterine Ibarguen
Sally Pearson & Kori Carter
Ruth Jebet & Emma Coburn
Helen Obiri & Almaz Ayana
Brittney Reese, Anita Wlodarczyk, Sandra Perkovic, and Nafi Thiam!
Elaine Thompson & Tori Bowie
Shaunae Miller-Uibo & Dafne Schippers!

US Athlete of the Year--WOMEN
EMMA COBURN
This should have been a TIE--with Courtney Frerichs!!
For SHOCK alone, Coburn & Frerichs win!!
But getting her American Record--and the Gold--decided it!

Honorable Mentions
Frerichs, of course!
Shalane Flanagan & Jenny Simpson
Ajee Wilson & Phyllis Francis
Bowie & Reese & Bartoletta
Kori Carter
Sandi Morris & Katie Nageotte
Kendell Williams & Erica Bougard
Gwen Berry & Keturah Orji

Special Mention
To KATIE BURNETT & ERIN TAYLOR-TALCOTT, those 50000 meter Walk Pioneers!!

World Performance of the Year--MEN
This one had a PAIR of PAIRS to decide on!
Would it be the co-defeats of Usain Bolt by Justin Gatlin & Christian Coleman at the WC's---
or the massive JT's of Johannes Vetter & Thomas Rohler??
Because Bolt was NOT Bolt this year, this Award goes to JOHANNES VETTER!
But they were so close, it could have been a TIE!!

HM's to---
Deniz, Kipchoge (for his Berlin win ONLY!), Crouser & Kovacs for their 74 footers, Kerley, Korir, Omar McLeod, and Kevin Mayer.

US Performance of the Year--MEN
CHRISTIAN COLEMAN for his 9.82 NCAA win & Collegiate Record!

Honorable Mentions
Kerley, Gatlin, Galen Rupp (for his Chicago win!), Taylor's 59-5, and Kendricks's 6.00!!

World Performance of the Year--WOMEN
EMMA COBURN
This one ALMOST went to Ines Henriques, who won that 50K Walk in London in WR-smashing time!!
But even in the 3000SC, this award could have gone equally to Ruth Jebet or Celiphine Chespol or Courtney Frerichs!
Then there's Mary Keitany & Tirunesh Dibaba, Helen Obiri or Almaz Ayana, Sally Pearson's WC win, or to Stefanidi's 16+ PV!
Not forgetting T&FN's AOY--Anita Wlodarczyk!!

Honorable Mentions
All those names just above!
Add Ajee Wilson, Brittney Reese, Miller-Uibo, and Phyllis Francis!

Special Mention
To INES HENRIQUES, for being the brilliant 50K Pioneering WR breaker--TWICE!!

World Personality of the Year--MEN
My criteria for Personality of the Year does not insist on that person being GOOD!
Or a winner.
Or Record breaker!
Thus, I give this one to JUSTIN GATLIN!
Yes, he did win the WC 100!
But the guy he beat ALSO could have won here---just for being who he is!!
For DA MAN---even at his competitive WORST--Usain Bolt was a Personality to behold--and savor!!
In the end, however, it was Gatlin's internalizing of all the BOO's he received in London--his HUMANITY in the face of pure HATRED--that gave him this prize!!

US Personality of the Year--MEN
As happens whenever an American wins the WORLD Award, he or she also gets the US prize!!
So it's JUSTIN GATLIN--again!

World Personality of the Year--WOMEN
GABRIELLE "GABE" GRUNEWALD
Who else??
For stark dramatic humanitarian beauty within & without--for everything that makes people HUMAN--for staring death in the face and saying "FUCK YOU!!"--and for being who this incredible Woman IS--Gabe truly deserves this Award!!

US Personality of the Year--WOMEN
GABE GRUNEWALD!
No other!

I'm adding a couple of other Trophies to this collection!

Best Competitors in a Single Event--MEN
Johannes Vetter & Thomas Rohler went back & forth on the longest JT's of 2017!
And they went FAR!!
Add Christian Taylor & Will Claye!
Gatlin & Coleman--and Bolt!
Crouser & Walsh!

Best Competitors in a Single Event--WOMEN
Emma Coburn & Courtney Frerichs!!
But you have to mention--
Keitany & Dibaba in the London Marathon!
Yulimar Rojas & Caterine Ibarguen
Stefanidi & Sandi Morris

World Newcomer of the Year--MEN
KARSTEN WARHOLM
Not the fastest, but surely the most consistent & most endearing!!

Others were Emmanuel Korir & Fred Kerley!

US Newcomer of the Year--MEN
Mr Kerley!

World Newcomer of the Year--WOMEN
SALWA NASER
She PR'ed in EVERY race she ran!!
And wound up with a 49.88!!

Others were Konstanze Klosterhalfen & Celiphine Chespol!

US Newcomer of the Year--WOMEN
While not really a "newcomer", I have to give this one to COURTNEY FRERICHS---especially for her 15.32 second PR in THE race of the year!!
Also to another not-so-new person---Katie Nageotte!!

Well, folks, this ends this blog's coverage of 2017!
Here in Bellingham WA, we are about 17 hours away from---2018!!!

See you NEXT YEAR!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!