No Jamaican Among World Athletics’ Track Athletes Of The Year (AOY) Nominees
Jamaicans were expected to dominate the Track Athletes of the Year Awards
The World Athletics announced their list of nominees for the Panel of Judges to deliberate on during the World Athletics Awards 2022. It was expected that Jamaicans will dominate the nominations in the women’s 100m, 200m, and 400m, considering their dominance in these particular events during the 2022 season.
No Jamaican women were nominated for the Track Athlete of the Year Award
However, the list of nominees has revealed that no Jamaican female athlete made the cut to the top five, which is a significant blow to Jamaican track and field. The Jamaican team, led by Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson, swept the medals in the women’s 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in July 2022, and Thompson-Herah won the 200m, improving her time to 21.53 seconds, the second-fastest time in the history of the event.
Fraser-Pryce, who won an unprecedented five World Championships 100m medals, including four gold, surprisingly missed out on the list of nominees. Her absence, and the absence of her teammates, raised eyebrows and questions in the track and field community about the selection criteria for the award.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reacts to the nominations
After the nominations were announced, Fraser-Pryce took to social media to express her disappointment, stating: "Not even surprised. It's been a trend for years. Don't let them fool you. Jah know. I show up. I put in the work. I stay consistent. At the end of the day, only ONE knows my story." Her comments hinted at a long-standing issue in the selection process for the awards, especially for Jamaican athletes.
Jamaican athletes have historically been underrepresented in major athletics awards
It is not the first time that Jamaican athletes have been underrepresented in major athletics awards. In 2019, Thompson-Herah, who won the sprint double at the World Athletics Championships that year, was not nominated for the Female World Athlete of the Year award despite her outstanding season. The trend has continued this year, with the absence of Jamaican women sprinters from the top five nominees.
Nonetheless, Jamaica remains a powerhouse in track and field, and despite the disappointment of not having any representatives in the Track Athlete of the Year nominations, the country will continue to produce world-class athletes who will challenge for major titles in the years to come.
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