wAOY - Felix, SRR, Adams, Perković

[Flumpy]

Not sure how high she'll be placed but I think Tiki Gelana is deserving of a top-10 spot. Won Rotterdam in 2:18:58 followed by a gold medal in London in an Olympic record of 2:23:07.

Alysson and Sanya aren't even going to make the Top 10 at this rate

[mump boy]

Why is nobody mentioning these 2 ?

Cakir

1500m 01.07 Helsinki European Championships 1. 4:05.31
1500m 06.07 Paris Meeting AREVA 2. 3:56.62 (1st after Selsouli DQ)
1500m 10.08 London Olympic Games 1. 4:10.23

Zaripova

3000mSC 03.07 Cheboksary Russian Ch. 1. 9:09.99
3000mSC 06.08 London Olympic Games 1. 9:06.72
3000mSC 17.08 Stockholm DN Galan 1. 9:05.02

They've had unbeaten seasons with super fast times, Zaripova is 2nd fastest ever

I think they are right up there and should be considered

[gh]

Yelena Lashmanova? Oh wait...

That's a very good point she. Won the Olympics in a WR and the World Race Walking Cup.

Did she have any other competitions?

2nd at the Russian Race Walking Championships in February (1.26.30).

Does anyone know what the highest placing in the AOY voting (male or female) a walker (either 20K or 50K, or both) ever received??

Any in the Top Ten??

I'm guessing it was Korzeniowski's No. 4 in '00.

There's a listing of all the voting in our Archive.

[bobguild76]

Does anyone know what the highest placing in the AOY voting (male or female) a walker (either 20K or 50K, or both) ever received??

Any in the Top Ten??

I'm guessing it was Korzeniowski's No. 4 in '00.

There's a listing of all the voting in our Archive.

Not only that, but he was the #5 ranked AOD, just one spot below Usain Bolt! The pre-eminent perambulator!

[tm71]

i think it has been mentioned before that relays do not count in the cosidering the AOY so felix and SRR have to depend on their individual races in the 100 and 200 (for felix) and 200 and 400 for SRR. Felix will clearly rank # 1 in the 200, but no higher than 5th in the 100. SRR will clearly rank # 1 in the 400, but no higher than 4th in the 200. Adams and Perkovic will be considered given the fact they were undefeated. Ennis has the same problem with Eaton, two wins with large margins, including beating the defending champion in the OG. The only thing she did not do was exceed 7000 points (WR would be totally unrealistic). But in a year without individual WRs she has a good chance. Someone mentioned the 4 x 1 relay, well that will clearly be the performance of the year (maybe decade).

[Tuariki]

i think it has been mentioned before that relays do not count in the cosidering the AOY so felix and SRR have to depend on their individual races in the 100 and 200 (for felix) and 200 and 400 for SRR. Felix will clearly rank # 1 in the 200, but no higher than 5th in the 100. SRR will clearly rank # 1 in the 400, but no higher than 4th in the 200. Adams and Perkovic will be considered given the fact they were undefeated. Ennis has the same problem with Eaton, two wins with large margins, including beating the defending champion in the OG. The only thing she did not do was exceed 7000 points (WR would be totally unrealistic). But in a year without individual WRs she has a good chance. Someone mentioned the 4 x 1 relay, well that will clearly be the performance of the year (maybe decade).

Why do you say the world record is totally unrealistic for Ennis?
Is it because you think she is not good enough? or
Is it because you think the WR is "tainted"" in someway.
These would seem to be the only options for your claim. So which one is it? Or is there another option?

[tm71]

i think it has been mentioned before that relays do not count in the cosidering the AOY so felix and SRR have to depend on their individual races in the 100 and 200 (for felix) and 200 and 400 for SRR. Felix will clearly rank # 1 in the 200, but no higher than 5th in the 100. SRR will clearly rank # 1 in the 400, but no higher than 4th in the 200. Adams and Perkovic will be considered given the fact they were undefeated. Ennis has the same problem with Eaton, two wins with large margins, including beating the defending champion in the OG. The only thing she did not do was exceed 7000 points (WR would be totally unrealistic). But in a year without individual WRs she has a good chance. Someone mentioned the 4 x 1 relay, well that will clearly be the performance of the year (maybe decade).

Why do you say the world record is totally unrealistic for Ennis?
Is it because you think she is not good enough? or
Is it because you think the WR is "tainted"" in someway.
These would seem to be the only options for your claim. So which one is it? Or is there another option?

dude u can make those speculations at your own peril. i simply said that the WR is unrealistic given that it is almost 300 points more than what ennis personal best. in order for her to get near it she would have to start jumping close to 7 m in the long jump and throw over 50 m in the javelin (i dont think she can improve that much in the hurdles, high jump, 200 and 800). however what we are discussing here is the 2012 AOY, not whether Ennis can challenge a mark no one has challenged in over two decades.

[mump boy]

According to IAAF these are from 'principle' competitions so not 100% if any missed

Perkovic lost in Paris but has competed 11 times,

Adams has never lost but competed 7 times this summer (there are probably more competitions southern hemisphere this winter)

Sanya has a loss over her premier event from 7 starts

Allyson hasn't lost but only competed in 3 finals at 200m

Chicherova's 3rd on London was her only loss from 5 competitions

Jess is 2 for 2

Don't forget that Zaripova and Cakir are also 3 for 3 this year

I'm not happy by the lack of competition from some people this year, unless you're in multi events or MAR 5 competitions is not acceptable

[toyracer]

According to IAAF these are from 'principle' competitions so not 100% if any missed

i couldn't find criteria for Athlete of the Year, care to share a link?

[Tuariki]

i think it has been mentioned before that relays do not count in the cosidering the AOY so felix and SRR have to depend on their individual races in the 100 and 200 (for felix) and 200 and 400 for SRR. Felix will clearly rank # 1 in the 200, but no higher than 5th in the 100. SRR will clearly rank # 1 in the 400, but no higher than 4th in the 200. Adams and Perkovic will be considered given the fact they were undefeated. Ennis has the same problem with Eaton, two wins with large margins, including beating the defending champion in the OG. The only thing she did not do was exceed 7000 points (WR would be totally unrealistic). But in a year without individual WRs she has a good chance. Someone mentioned the 4 x 1 relay, well that will clearly be the performance of the year (maybe decade).

Why do you say the world record is totally unrealistic for Ennis?
Is it because you think she is not good enough? or
Is it because you think the WR is "tainted"" in someway.
These would seem to be the only options for your claim. So which one is it? Or is there another option?

dude u can make those speculations at your own peril. i simply said that the WR is unrealistic given that it is almost 300 points more than what ennis personal best. in order for her to get near it she would have to start jumping close to 7 m in the long jump and throw over 50 m in the javelin (i dont think she can improve that much in the hurdles, high jump, 200 and 800). however what we are discussing here is the 2012 AOY, not whether Ennis can challenge a mark no one has challenged in over two decades.

You have answered my query. You don't think she is good enough. You are probably right.

[AS]

Adams has never lost but competed 7 times this summer (there are probably more competitions southern hemisphere this winter)

Adams has had 13 comps in the 2012 calendar year:
- 2 in NZ
- 1 in Aus (a 20.67 win)
- 1 indoor at WIC
- 6 DL wins
- 2 other European wins
- 1 Olympic victory

She's had 5 of her 10 longest career throws in 2012

[Daisy]

Ennis looked beatable at certain points

Which point were you thinking of?

[Tuariki]

Ennis looked beatable at certain points

Which point were you thinking of?

Maybe during the warm up for the 100h?

[lionelp1]

Flumpy is correct re the comments about team Relay medals; the statement by 26mi is mere foolishness; the latters comment about Felix being the core of the relay team is irrelevant since everyone on the Relay team is of equal importance in that they all must handle successfully their baton responsibilities.

[nevetsllim]

Felix shouldn't be anywhere near AOY. Her 100m season was good but isn't anything to enhance her case and relays are immaterial in this discussion (and rightfully so). Her 200m at the US Trials was fantastic and she won the Olympic title in a very fast time but nothing else stands out. Granted, these were the most important competitions but you need a bit more on your CV to boost your credentials. At the moment, I'd put her equal with someone like Zaripova (in the middle of the top-10) who has a similar racing card at her specialist distance.

[jamboy]

Felix shouldn't be anywhere near AOY. Her 100m season was good but isn't anything to enhance her case and relays are immaterial in this discussion (and rightfully so). Her 200m at the US Trials was fantastic and she won the Olympic title in a very fast time but nothing else stands out. Granted, these were the most important competitions but you need a bit more on your CV to boost your credentials. At the moment, I'd put her equal with someone like Zaripova (in the middle of the top-10) who has a similar racing card at her specialist distance.

I agree.

[Tuariki]

Adams has never lost but competed 7 times this summer (there are probably more competitions southern hemisphere this winter)

Adams has had 13 comps in the 2012 calendar year:
- 2 in NZ
- 1 in Aus (a 20.67 win)
- 1 indoor at WIC
- 6 DL wins
- 2 other European wins
- 1 Olympic victory

She's had 5 of her 10 longest career throws in 2012

Rieti gives Valerie 14 wins for no losses and another meet record.
Undefeated now for over 2 years. Should be a lock for AOY. But who knows?

[gh]

Undefeated for 1 year, 2 years or 27, makes no difference.

[j-a-m]

Spotakova now got a heptathlon score just shy of the Olympic B standard. I'd probably rank her a couple spots higher just because of that. Now the question is, would that be a valid consideration for an actual voter?

[gh]

I certainly hope not! The B-standard is what allows second-tier athletes into the Games.

The 5880 puts her about 64th on the yearly list. Would you consider somebody with an 11.26 in the 100 (also 64th) have that mean anything in voting for something as elevated as AOY?

[j-a-m]

The 5880 puts her about 64th on the yearly list. Would you consider somebody with an 11.26 in the 100 (also 64th) have that mean anything in voting for something as elevated as AOY?

IF that event is significantly different from the primary event, then yes, I'd like to consider it. And yes, that would apply IF Spotakova were to run 11.26 in addition to being the top JTer.

Being top 100 in the world in an entirely different event shows that someone is an overall great athlete, and it's called Athlete of the year after all.

Don't worry, though; should I ever get on the voting panel, I'd go with the official t&f news criteria ...

[dbirds]

I agree with J-A-M. I think Spotakova's performance was impressive. How many other gold medalists could score nearly 6000pts in a hepathlon?

[bushop]

I agree with J-A-M. I think Spotakova's performance was impressive. How many other gold medalists could score nearly 6000pts in a hepathlon?

Sure it's great... but it has nothing to do with AOY.
How could it?

[j-a-m]

How could it?

To determine AOY, you need to compare competitors from various different events, and to do so you need criteria to compare them, whether those are implicit or explicit.

I believe overall athletic skills to be one of the better criteria to use here. And wrapping up one's season with a top 100 performance in the heptathlon demonstrates such overall athletic skills.

[nevetsllim]

But it's about finding the best athlete in the world, not the best all-round athlete. And why not go for Ennis then, who's demonstrated she's world-class in two events and of a very good international standard in a few others?

[Vault-emort]

How many other gold medalists could score nearly 6000pts in a hepathlon?

Since this is now a hypothetical thread.... oh wait....

[EPelle]

Felix selected USOC Sportswoman of the Year.

[Gleason]

Felix selected USOC Sportswoman of the Year.

I agree with Felix as AOY. IMHO her OG performance is the clincher because I'm impressed with her three gold medals.

[gh]

The T&FN ballot will show only a single gold for Felix... her team stuff is irrelevant far as we're concerned. Counting that gives an unfair advantage (way unfair advantage) to those from large-population nations. And has nothing to do with individual achievement.

[j-a-m]

The T&FN ballot will show only a single gold for Felix... her team stuff is irrelevant far as we're concerned. Counting that gives an unfair advantage (way unfair advantage) to those from large-population nations. And has nothing to do with individual achievement.

Those from smaller countries have an "unfair" advantage in that they don't have to go through national trials to qualify for their individual events at WC and OG; so they can peak once as opposed to twice. So while it's much easier to win relay medals if you're from a larger country, that's somewhat mitigated because it's more difficult to medal in individual events.

Besides, are Bahamas and Jamaica really "large-population nations"?

[aaronk]

I agree with J-A-M. I think Spotakova's performance was impressive. How many other gold medalists could score nearly 6000pts in a hepathlon?

I'd say just about ANYONE could who's tops in their event.....as long as that event is in the Hept....or some equivalent.
Thus, I doubt a Tirinish Dibaba could do it, because there's no Hept event similar to a 10K or 5K!!

But sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, throwers??
She'd get a HUGE point total (1100 or more??) from her key event.
Thus she'd need "only 4800 or 4900 from the other 6 events.

An Olympic athlete is highly trained, and her athletic talent and shape and skills would allow her to get fair to decent point scores in those other events.

Imagine Britney Reese, Dawn Harper (or Lolo??), Kara Patterson, or Carmelita Jeter doing a Hept!!

[mump boy]

IAAF finalists are announced .........

Valerie Adams
Jessica Ennis
Allyson Felix

http://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/ ... -womens-fi

[Daisy]

I'd go for Ennis as the pressure for her was immense.

[gh]

The IAAF nominations point out what a great year this was for men compared to women. There are people who didn't make the men's final 3 who are better than the best of the women's candidates, methinks.

[Gleason]

The IAAF nominations point out what a great year this was for men compared to women. There are people who didn't make the men's final 3 who are better than the best of the women's candidates, methinks.

I agree. In 2007 Felix was fourth in AOY, but her 2012 season was similar to 2007, yet she is in the top three.