Jamaican sprinters short listed for prestigious awards

Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser have been short listed for the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards, to be announced on March 10 in Abu Dhabi.



Bolt, who won the award last year by beating four-time winner and tennis great Roger Federer, is again on the shortlist for his three gold medals won at the athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany.



At the World Championships, he shattered his 100 and 200-metre world records.



Fraser, the Beijing Olympic 100-metre champion, was named for her outstanding run in the event at Berlin, where she pipped compatriot Kerron Stewart and American Carmelita Jeter in a fast final.



Bolt will again be challenged by Federer for the title.



Ethiopian athlete Kenenisa Bekele became the first man to win the

5,000 and 10,000 metres double at that World Championships and was also shortlisted.



Also shortlisted for the men’s title are Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador, Barcelona and Argentina footballer Lionel Messi and Italy\'s Valentino Rossi, who claimed his seventh Moto GP title.



Serena Williams was the only previous winner to be short listed for the women\'s award, after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon and regaining the number one ranking.



Also on the women’s list is Jamaican born American 400-metre runner Sanya Richards.