Julien Alfred of St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino have been shortlisted among the top six contenders for the 2024 World Athletics Female Track Athlete of the Year award.
This prestigious nomination comes as part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, celebrating the most outstanding athletes across a range of disciplines.
Alfred’s impressive season saw her capturing Olympic gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m in Paris, along with winning the World Indoor 60m title earlier in the year. She also claimed the Diamond League 100m crown, cementing her status as one of the top sprinters in the world. Her performances this year have been nothing short of extraordinary, earning her a well-deserved spot among the nominees.
Unbeaten throughout 2024
Paulino, the Dominican Republic’s quarter-mile queen, has been equally dominant, remaining unbeaten throughout 2024. She secured the Olympic 400m title in Paris and topped the Diamond League 400m standings, showcasing her unmatched consistency and prowess in the event.
Other nominees for the prestigious award include Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, who took home Olympic gold in the 5000m and 10,000m; Faith Kipyegon, another Kenyan, who broke the World 1500m record and won Olympic gold in the same event; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from the USA, the Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay champion; and Gabby Thomas, also from the USA, who won the Olympic 200m and was part of the gold-medal-winning 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.
The finalists for the award will be decided through public voting on World Athletics’ social media platforms, with voting closing on October 27. This year’s nominees have delivered some of the most memorable performances at major global events, including the Paris 2024 Olympics, World Athletics Indoor Championships, and the Diamond League meetings.
Shortlist for the 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year award
In addition to the female nominees, World Athletics has also revealed the shortlist for the 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year award, celebrating remarkable achievements from the Paris 2024 Olympics and other major competitions.
The nominees for the 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year include Rai Benjamin (USA): Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay champion, world leader in the 400m hurdles; Grant Holloway (USA): Olympic 110m hurdles champion, World Indoor 60m hurdles champion and record holder; Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway): Olympic 5000m champion, world record holder in the 3000m; Noah Lyles (USA): Olympic 100m champion, Olympic 200m bronze medalist; Letsile Tebogo (Botswana): Olympic 200m champion, world leader in the 200m; and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya): Olympic 800m champion, Diamond League 800m champion.
Voting for the men’s and women’s Track Athlete of the Year awards is currently open, with the finalists set to be announced after the public voting closes. The winners will be honored at the World Athletics Awards later this year.
