Jamaican sprinter Campbell-Brown misses out
Published:Monday | November 22, 2010 | 2:35 PM
Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown misses out as Kenya's 800 metre runner David Rudisha and world indoor high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia were named International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Athletes of the Year.
Vlasic succeeded American Sanya Richards as the top female athlete.
Campbell-Brown, U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, British heptathlete Jessica Ennis and Kenyan steeplechaser Milcah Chemos Cheywa were the other women finalists at the annual World Athletics Gala dinner in Monaco.
The 27-year-old Vlasic, won 18 of 20 competitions in what she called her toughest season.
Vlasic plans to skip the upcoming indoor season to recharge herself for the outdoor circuit.
The 21-year-old Rudisha won the men’s award following a superb year. He twice eclipsed the world 800 metre record in 2010, lowering it to one minute 41.01 seconds, in a sparkling season of 11 consecutive victories.
His award ends a run of four consecutive years in which sprinters have been named athletes of the year. Jamaican Usain Bolt won the men’s award last year.
United States sprinter Tyson Gay, American hurdler David Oliver, Eritrean distance runner Zersenay Tadese and Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen were the other male finalists.