jb wrote:I agree that Edwards deserved AOY in 1995, and certainly with hindsight his marks seem more remarkable then Geb's. That said, 1995 was an unusually deep year. I doubt there's been a year in the last several decades with so many strong contenders. The top five in the voting were as follows:
1. Haile Gebrselassie 3000 - 1st GP Final Two Miles - 8:07.46 5000 - 12:44.39 WR (previous WR was 12:55.30, lowering of record by 10.91 seconds was the most since Lauri Lehtinen's 14:17.0 in 1932), also 12:53.19 10K - 26:43.53 WR (previous WR 26:52.23, lowering of record by 8.70 seconds was the largest margin since Ron Clarke's 27:39.4 in 1965), also WC gold medal
2. Jonathan Edwards undefeated in 14 meets, including WC WR entering the season was 17.98 jumped 18.43w (+2.4) on 6/25, 18.03w (+2.9) on 7/2, 17.98 WR on 7.18, 18.08w (+2.5) on 7/23, 18.16 and 18.29 on 8/7 (1st two jumps of WC Final), 18.00 on 8/27
3. Michael Johnson 1st ever to win 200/400 double at WC undefeated in 15 races (8 200s, 7 400s) 200 - 19.79 (WR was 19.72A), WC gold 400 - 43.39 (#2 all-time, WR was 43.29), 43.66, 43.86, 43.88, WC gold
don't know if '72 is in jb's "last couple of decades" timeframe, but that year has always stuck for me. Rod Milburn equals the World Record to win Olympic gold and loses only one race all year.... and rates No. 9!
I am predicting Eaton will get the most first place votes but will get shafted by the voters and not get near as many 2nd and 3rd place votes and he will end up 3rd or 4th overall. I hope I'm wrong but I just feel too many voters discriminate vs multi eventers. Hope I'm wrong but that's my prediction.
With about 2 weeks to go until we SEE the cover of the AOY issue, here's my FINAL picks for the World Top Ten:
1. Aries Merritt (The WR does it! Add the Gold, the streak, and the times, and he's #1.) 2. Ashton Eaton (Just squeaks by Rudisha! If he'd gotten the OR, he MIGHT have challenged Merritt!!) 3. David Rudisha (ANY other year, an EASY #1!! And a WR and a Gold in the same race.....!!) 4. Mo Farah (Gets 4th just on burst eardrums alone!! Two Golds in his HOME OG...!) 5. Usain Bolt (Loses to Mo by a thread!! Despite no WR's (except as relayer), coulda been #1 in most other years!!) 6. Kris Pars (Consistent, OG Gold, and great marks.) 7. Kirani James (Gold, fastest time, and 1st sub-44 in a few years.) 8. Ivan Ukhov (Premier HJ'er of 2012, in a year of some other pretty fair jumpers!!) 9. Yohan Blake (Erase Bolt, and Blake is #5 this year!! But 9.75 and 19.44...??) 10. Jason Richardson (As Blake was to Bolt, Richardson was to Merritt!!)
aaronk wrote:With about 2 weeks to go until we SEE the cover of the AOY issue, here's my FINAL picks for the World Top Ten:
1. Aries Merritt (The WR does it! Add the Gold, the streak, and the times, and he's #1.) 2. Ashton Eaton (Just squeaks by Rudisha! If he'd gotten the OR, he MIGHT have challenged Merritt!!) 3. David Rudisha (ANY other year, an EASY #1!! And a WR and a Gold in the same race.....!!) 4. Mo Farah (Gets 4th just on burst eardrums alone!! Two Golds in his HOME OG...!) 5. Usain Bolt (Loses to Mo by a thread!! Despite no WR's (except as relayer), coulda been #1 in most other years!!) 6. Kris Pars (Consistent, OG Gold, and great marks.) 7. Kirani James (Gold, fastest time, and 1st sub-44 in a few years.) 8. Ivan Ukhov (Premier HJ'er of 2012, in a year of some other pretty fair jumpers!!) 9. Yohan Blake (Erase Bolt, and Blake is #5 this year!! But 9.75 and 19.44...??) 10. Jason Richardson (As Blake was to Bolt, Richardson was to Merritt!!)
James, Ukhov, Blake and Richardson lost more than once. Harding undefeated.
mump boy wrote:Jason Richardson only won 3 times and lost 10 !!
Yohan Blake ran some of the fastest races of all time and had the misfortune to come up against Bolt, Jason Richardson didn't nothing like that
I also think Mo is WAY too high, how does he get above Bolt who also won 2 gold medals but also ran FAST. Mo did practically nothing outside of London
I'll post my choices later today so everyone can have a go at me as well
Right or wrong, I gave "home court" points to both Farah and Ennis (see my women's AOY picks). Yes, Bolt was better, but he's not from GB!! Bottom line: these are our personal picks!!
aaronk wrote:Bottom line: these are our personal picks!!
Oh so I can vote for the HS athlete in my area who pulled off wins in the 100-200-400-4x100-4x400 at a small meet in April as T&FN AOY? regardless if no serious comp was there, I thought it was amazing.
Last edited by ATK on Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
mump boy wrote:Jason Richardson only won 3 times and lost 10 !!
Yohan Blake ran some of the fastest races of all time and had the misfortune to come up against Bolt, Jason Richardson didn't nothing like that
I also think Mo is WAY too high, how does he get above Bolt who also won 2 gold medals but also ran FAST. Mo did practically nothing outside of London
I'll post my choices later today so everyone can have a go at me as well
Right or wrong, I gave "home court" points to both Farah and Ennis (see my women's AOY picks). Yes, Bolt was better, but he's not from GB!! Bottom line: these are our personal picks!!
How come you didn't rate Adam Gemili ahead of Bolt? Surely his home court advantage would overcome Bolt's gold medals
You obviously have your own rules for choosing AOY, ones that have nothing to do with T&FN guidelines. So there is no point trying to reconcile them with any of our choices, we're working within different parameters so they aren't comparable
