wAOY - Felix, SRR, Adams, Perković

[Tuariki]

So who is going to be AOY. I believe it is down to Felix, SRR, Adams and Perkovic. My choice is Adams because:
Undefeated with 13 wins in 2012
Olympic champion
Biggest winning margins
Top 8 performances *

*. Based on my own personal assessment standard that IAAF should introduce a new rule that automatically rules as drug related, all performances in the previous 12 months of the date of a positive drug test.

[aaronk]

Jessica Ennis....easily!!
Two best point totals of the year, two wins, OG Gold in her HOME Olympics!!

Then, I'd go with Adams, followed by Felix, then Perkovic, then SRR.
Almost forgot SAFP!!
She fits in there somewhere.....probably behind Adams and ahead of Felix!!
T Dibaba would come after SRR......or possibly just before!!
Very close.

I still wish we could go for a whole team.....namely the US 4X100 squad!!

[Tuariki]

I stand chastised for forgetting Ennis. However, I still go with Adams. But they are all deserving.

[mump boy]

Felix is out of it as far as i'm concerned, 4 200m races isn't enough and relay medals don't count

SRR may have won a lot but i've not been very impressed and there haven't been any fast times even by her own standards.

SAFP has too many loses even if she won when if mattered

So it's down to Jess, Val and Sandy P

[Flumpy]

SRR isn't remotely deserving.

She shouldn't even make the top 5.

SAFP
Felix
Ennis
Perkovic
Adams
Chicherova

Are all clearly ahead of her. Probably Pearson as well.

[j-a-m]

Given that the relays don't count, it's gonna be difficult for Felix. So I'd have to go with SAFP or Ennis.

[jazzcyclist]

So it's down to Jess, Val and Sandy P

Jess? Doesn't this contradict what you said on the other thread?

[mump boy]

So it's down to Jess, Val and Sandy P

Jess? Doesn't this contradict what you said on the other thread?

Jess has to be considered as does Ashton. Whether they would be my AOY or not it debatable but i don't think there is as much competish on the women's side (No WR or multiple OG wins) so Jess could possibly get my vote

[Flumpy]

Actually why is Allyson so widely considered? She only ran two 200m finals all year and her 100m was great for her but overall nothing special.

21.69 is fabulous but other than that there's nothing much to base a AOY vote on.

[mump boy]

Actually why is Allyson so widely considered?

Because she's Allyson Felix

[Tuariki]

And because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 200m) and because she is beautiful.

[jamboy]

And because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 200m) and because she is beautiful.

Allyson would be in the top 10 athletes considered for AOL but certainly not the actual AOY.

[vip]

How is SRR even in this discussion? Yes, she won Olympic gold, but in a rather pedestrian (for her) time and almost got run down in that race. Is her Olympic medal more golden than a number of others who won in London? I don't put much stock in relay gold because three others were also responsible for that medal.

Obviously she's a terrific athlete but she's had better years (but not better Olympic 400s). I'm not even sure she's in the top 10, and if so, she's near the bottom.

[jazzcyclist]

How is SRR even in this discussion?

Because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 400m) and because she is beautiful.

[fasttrack85]

How is SRR even in this discussion?

Because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 400m) and because she is beautiful.

Sanya lost to Novlene in May. So she is not undefeated but everything else is true.

[toyracer]

I suppose there is a much better case for S-AF-P than for SR-R.

National 100m champion
National 200m champion
New national 100m record
New personal best in 200m (twice)
Olympic 100 gold medal
Olympic 200m silver medal
IAAF DL 100m champion
FWIW, world leading 100m time

Adams, Ennis would be above S-AF-P but SR-R and Felix should end up lower in the ranking/voting/whatever.

[lionelp1]

No serious track and field follower could entertain the basis of SRR or Felix being female athlete of the year. Far more deserving cases which have been set out already. Not quite Ennis despite her Goldie and Gotzis performances this year. Adams for me or SAFP.

[lionelp1]

Jessica Ennis....easily!!
Two best point totals of the year, two wins, OG Gold in her HOME Olympics!!

Then, I'd go with Adams, followed by Felix, then Perkovic, then SRR.
Almost forgot SAFP!!
She fits in there somewhere.....probably behind Adams and ahead of Felix!!
T Dibaba would come after SRR......or possibly just before!!
Very close.

I still wish we could go for a whole team.....namely the US 4X100 squad!!

Some of your posts??

Almost forgot SAFP Jess easily???

[mump boy]

I don't see how SAFP comes into this discussion.

You have to dominate your event to be AOY and although she has won when when it mattered she's had way to many losses to be AOY

it comes down to Valerie, Jess and Sandra who have all totally dominated their events this year.

[shivfan]

Felix gets my vote....three gold medals, plus a WR in the relay.

[aaronk]

How is SRR even in this discussion?

Because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 400m) and because she is beautiful.

Um, since when is being beautiful one of T&FN's criteria for AOY??

If it were, then I'd vote for either Lolo Jones or Michelle Jenneke!!

[bushop]

Felix gets my vote....three gold medals, plus a WR in the relay.

I don't think relays count.
Do you think they should?

[mump boy]

Felix gets my vote....three gold medals, plus a WR in the relay.

1 individual Gold medal and 6th fastest 200m of all time, nothing else is relevant

If she was a contender on individual achievements then relay performances may tip the balance but without the relay success she's nowhere near the others. People are getting marked down because they have lost 1 competition so you can't be called dominant in an event when you've only contested 3 finals

If she has raced at 200m as many times as SAFP had the 100m or Sandra P had the discus she may also have a loss or 2

[gh]

Felix gets my vote....three gold medals, plus a WR in the relay.

I don't think relays count.
Do you think they should?

T&FN's bio will list Felix's London accomplishments as a 200 gold and 100 5th and also mention a 48.2 relay carry. That's all.

Most definitely not the stuff that AOYs are built on. She's puffed up in the public perception because of the 3 golds, 2 of which could still have been accomplished if you swapped her out for a less capable runner. Team stuff has absolutely no place in an AOY discussion (by our rules).

[gh]

I don't see how SAFP comes into this discussion.

You have to dominate your event to be AOY and although she has won when when it mattered she's had way to many losses to be AOY

it comes down to Valerie, Jess and Sandra who have all totally dominated their events this year.

I think that Chicherova belongs in that grouping.

[jazzcyclist]

How is SRR even in this discussion?

Because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 400m) and because she is beautiful.

Um, since when is being beautiful one of T&FN's criteria for AOY??

Ask Tuariki?

[errolM]

Ennis.

I'm sure the powers-that-be don't include under-a-helluva-lot-of-pressure-to-deliver as a criterion for judging these things, but they should, because she was, and she did

[mump boy]

I don't see how SAFP comes into this discussion.

You have to dominate your event to be AOY and although she has won when when it mattered she's had way to many losses to be AOY

it comes down to Valerie, Jess and Sandra who have all totally dominated their events this year.

I think that Chicherova belongs in that grouping.

BUt she's only competed 5 times and that includes a loss at CP

The others are better for me as is Pearson who has super fast times to add to her accomplishments

[Gabriella]

It will be interesting to see the IAAF athlete of the year vs TFN and Athletics Weekly. Each is biased in it's own way, despite what each magazine may protetst

I expect AW willl go with Farah and Ennis. I really cannot imagine Pekovic or Adams being granted AOY by the IAAF, or TFN.

The IAAF has made some dreadful decisions in the past; the fiasco with Gunnell getting the most votes in 94 but it being awarded to JJK (the official story is because Gunnell couldnt attend, but the rumour was that Nebiolo called Gunnell "that awful woman" and did not want her to have it); Heike Henkel being awarded it in 92 instead of Heike Drechsler, despite the latter having the best season in the history of the event (West vs East & politics at play there) and the general lack of field and multieventers getting the award.

Personally, I don't like the idea of Perkovic winning it, but she has had a great season. Fellix and SRR are non starters for me...but I would not be surprised if the IAAF award it to Felix. Adams would be a good statement, but she isn't what they want to showcase.

As for who TFN go for, I have no idea.

[Flumpy]

I don't see how SAFP comes into this discussion.

You have to dominate your event to be AOY and although she has won when when it mattered she's had way to many losses to be AOY

it comes down to Valerie, Jess and Sandra who have all totally dominated their events this year.

I think that Chicherova belongs in that grouping.

BUt she's only competed 5 times and that includes a loss at CP

The others are better for me as is Pearson who has super fast times to add to her accomplishments

For HJ I think Indoors is counted which means she has another 5 performances with 4 of those over 2m (Including a 2.06) + a WI silver.

She's right up there.

[Flumpy]

Personally, I don't like the idea of Perkovic winning it, but she has had a great season. Fellix and SRR are non starters for me...but I would not be surprised if the IAAF award it to Felix. Adams would be a good statement, but she isn't what they want to showcase.

As for who TFN go for, I have no idea.

Adams would be a fantastic statement but it's highly unlikely she'll be given anything. Remember Ostapchuk a couple of years ago not even being on the shortlist for the IAAF and being completely nobbled by someone putting her in 10th place on T&FN.

In hindsight this was all for the best but she was an obvious AOY that year and yet it went to the gorgeous Blanka despite her season being clearly inferior.

For the men I'm sticking with Rudisha. You shouldn't be penalised for competing and neither of 2 nearest rivals competed much at all. In fact I'd put Harting over Mo. So......

1 - Rudisha
2 - Harting
3 - Eaton
4 - Farah

Probably Usian next but I'd have to look into it a bit further.

[Tuariki]

How is SRR even in this discussion?

Because she is the Olympic champ, and because she is fast, and because she is undefeated (at 400m) and because she is beautiful.

Um, since when is being beautiful one of T&FN's criteria for AOY??

Ask Tuariki?

I consulted my fellow directors on my Board (Hugh Hefner and Silvio Berlusconi) and we are of the unanimous opinion that it is obviously an unwritten criterion that beauty is a prime factor because old men simply can't help themselves. And i am guessing many of the voters are old men. Dirty old men??? It is also sometimes referred to as the Jimmy Carter syndrome.

[TrackFan4Ever]

Felix gets my vote....three gold medals, plus a WR in the relay.

I don't think relays count.
Do you think they should?

T&FN's bio will list Felix's London accomplishments as a 200 gold and 100 5th and also mention a 48.2 relay carry. That's all.

Most definitely not the stuff that AOYs are built on. She's puffed up in the public perception because of the 3 golds, 2 of which could still have been accomplished if you swapped her out for a less capable runner. Team stuff has absolutely no place in an AOY discussion (by our rules).

She deserves to be "puffed up" in the public perception because of the 3 golds. Just because you and others do not consider team stuff for the AOY discussion does not minimized what she accomplished at the Olympics. The issue is not could they have won without her in the 4x100 and 4x400 with someone else, but was there anyone else who could have performed the way she did. The body of work at the Olympics speaks for itself and justify the public perception. I really do not understand this "backhand slap" at Felix.

[MightyBurner]

Easily Adams. No one else was close to her this year. Ennis looked beatable at certain points, Adams didn't if you take Ostapchuk out of the equation.

[j-a-m]

100m and Heptathlon are inherently more valuable events than the SP; that's part of the reason why I'd pick SAFP and Ennis over Adams, regardless of whether Adams is more undefeated within her event than the others.