2019 OUTdoors World & US Athletes of the Year (a bit late!)

 Sorry for the long delay in doing my AOY's for the World & US for 2019 OUTdoors, but if you've read my recent posts, you know I just had cataracts removed on September 10th, so now able to do what's needed to produce my blog again!

Loyal readers also know I give most weight in AOY picks to Records broken--from HS and Collegiate, to US and the World!
While other criteria are considered , those who break the Records will tip the scales!
Thus, a few of my choices might surprise you--even cause argument!
Don't forget these are MY selections, and that I welcome any disagreements!

First, a listing of World and American Records broken in 2019 OUTdoors--
World Records, Men (Geoff Kamworor--Half Marathon in 58:01)
American Records, Men (Donovan Brazier--800 in 1:42.34)  (Sam Kendricks--Pole Vault of 19-10.50)
(4X100 Relay--37.10)
World Records, Women (Shaunae Miller-Uibo--300 in 34.41)  (Sifan Hassan--Mile in 4:12.33)
(Brigid Kosgei--Marathon in 2:14:04)  (Delilah Muhammed--400H in 52.20, then 52.16)
L Huong--50k Walk in 3:59:15)
American Records, Women  (Shelby Houlihan--1500 in 3:54.99)  (Delilah Muhammed--400H's in 52.20 and 52.16)

Athlete of the Year--World MEN
Oh boy!
Three guys shoved a 16 pound ball past 75 feet--in one meet!
My pick ran SLOW in the Doha final in his event!
But my choice is KARSTEN WARHOLM!!
His 46.92 earlier in the year was the first sub-47 since Kevin Young's WR!!
He went undefeated!
And he was always entertaining in doing so!

Honorable Mentions
Geoff Kamworor gets lead here, due to his WR Half!
Others include Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Tim Cheruiyot, Ken Bekele, Grant Holloway, Sam Kendricks, that trio of SP'ers (Joe Kovacs, Ryan Crouser, and Tom Walsh), and a Special Mention to Doha's Main Attraction and HJ Winner, Mutaz Barshim!!

Athlete of the Year--World WOMEN
A Mile WR always gets my attention, and one person breaking the WR twice in one year is definitely noteworthy!
But Paula Radcliffe's WR Marathon from 2003 was NOT supposed to be broken!
Several All Time greats had tried, but none came closer than 96 seconds removed!
Thus, when the Record was MANGLED by a full 81 seconds in Chicago, my AOY for 2019 OUTdoors was determined!
Her name is BRIGID KOSGEI!!

Honorable Mentions
Delilah Muhammed gets first dibs here, with her double dip into the WR pool in the 400H
Sifan Hassan got the Mile Record!
Others include Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, Dina Asher-Smith, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Sydney McLaughlin, Mariya Lasitskene, Anzhelika Sidorova and Sandi Morris, Yulimar Rojas, and Katerina Johnson-Thompson!!

Athlete of the Year--United States MEN
When you break a Record that's been around awhile, and when that Record is held by a Legend, you get my AOY!!
DONOVAN BRAZIER finally nailed Johnny Gray's iconic mark with his 1:42.34, which also got him the Gold medal in Doha!
The SP'ers were fantastic, but they did NOT get the AR, however controversial that mark is!

Honorable Mentions
Joe Kovacs and Ryan Crouser got Silver and Bronze with their 75's!
Others include Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles, Lopez Lomong, Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts, Will Claye and Christian Taylor, and Sam Kendricks.

Athlete of the Year--United States WOMEN
She not only got the American Record at USATF, but the World Record as well!
Then, in one of the best races of the year in ANY event, DELILAH MUHAMMED did it again in Qatar!!
I did give strong consideration to Shelby Houlihan, who blew away the old 1500 AR by 1.30 seconds!
But in the end, had to go with Muhammed--for the Record, and for defeating the Woman who I thought would win, and even go sub-52!!

Honorable Mentions
Shelby Houlihan leads the way here!
Others include Sydney McLaughlin, Ajee Wilson, Emma Coburn, Sara Hall, Nia Ali, Keturah Orji, Sandi Morris and Jenn Suhr, DeAnna Price, Erica Bougard and Kendell Williams!!

Performance of the Year--World MEN
Geoff Kamworor's 58:01 in the Half Marathon!

Performance of the Year--World WOMEN
Brigid Kosgei's 2:14:04 Marathon!

Performance of the Year--United States MEN
Donovan Brazier's 1:42.34 in the 800!

Performance of the Year--United States WOMEN
This one was tough!  
But in the end, Shelby Houlihan's 3:54.99 in the 1500 prevailed--even though she didn't even medal in Doha!!
Delilah Muhammed did break the AR--and WR!!--twice, but her margins were far less than Houlihan's!

My Event of the Year is based on the number of Marks that make my Top 24 lists (my DDD's).
Thus, the Men's Marathon led with 8 Marks from 2019!
The Half Marathon and 4X100 Relay have 5 each!!
For the Women, The Marathon leads with 7, while the Half Marathon has 6, and the 1500 has 5.

BTW, the US Event of the Year are somewhat different from the World leaders!
The Men's leaders are the 100 and 400 with 4 apiece!
The 200, Marathon, Triple Jump, and Pole Vault have 3 each!
The Women best Event is the Hammer Throw, with 7 Marks!
The Marathon and Pole Vault have 5 Marks each!
The 1500 has 4.

My Personality of the Year awards can go to a person (or organization!) that is not always seen in a positive light!
Time Magazine has chosen some pretty nasty people for their Person of the Year--Ayatollah Khomeini, for example!!
So don't be TOO shocked when you see who I've chosen for my Personality of the Year for the World Men!!

Personality of the Year--World MEN
NIKE!!
YIKES!!
Yep, my friends, that nasty old shoe company gets my Personality of the Year award for the Men!!
You know the reason!
The Mary Cain saga explains it all--or should!
Alberto Salazar was Mary's coach.
He was banned for 4 years for alleged drug distribution to his star athletes!
Salazar was hired by Nike.
(There are other reasons to throw Nike under the bus, but this one is egregious enough!)

Personality of the Year--World WOMEN
It's not necessary for my Personality pick to be a Record breaker!
In this case, no WR was broken, but she broke a few others!
So this Award goes to SIFAN HASSAN!
Her 3:51.93 in Doha led a long string of Women to a long string of various Records broken (National, Age, Place).
But it was the WAY she did it that made me choose her for this Award!
She acted as her own personal rabbit, leading from the gun in the greatest 1500 race ever!!
That takes guts (and other unmentionables!  LOL)!!

Personality of the Year--United States MEN
This one is more personal!
I just LIKE this dude!!
A great athlete, but also a charming and loquacious and just cool dude, my winner is GRANT HOLLOWAY!!

Personality of the Year--United States WOMEN
MARY CAIN!!
Watch her 6:59 long NYT op-ed from last November 15th--and have a pile of hankies handy!
See my previous post for the whole story, but Cain's story went viral within hours!
She received numerous messages of support and love from elite athletes--Men and Women--from around the globe!
She has already inspired many teenage girls--from Middle School and High School and Colleges--with her honesty and courage.
And she is coming back!
She is stronger now, despite the horrors she experienced for years!!
An easy choice!

Coming soon--
my first report on the 2019-2020 INdoor season!!
(My eyesight was so bad, I don't even know most of the Records and Marks I'll begin researching soon!!)
These results are old, but hopefully you'll enjoy remembering them!