LONDON, CMC – World and Olympic champion Omar McLeod is the only Caribbean athlete nominated for the IAAF World Athlete-of-the-Year.
The 23-year-old Jamaican was one of the few successes from the region at the World Championships in London last August, winning the men’s sprint hurdles in a time of 13.04 seconds.
Jamaican Omar McLeod.
McLeod, the fifth fastest of all time at 12.90, captured gold at last year’s Rio Olympics in 13.05.
Jamaican Usain Bolt, a six-time winner of the award, was not among the 10-man shortlist. At his farewell in London, he failed to make the impression he hoped, finishing third in the 100 metres as American Justin Gatlin took gold in the final.
Bolt crashed out of the sprint relay, pulling up on the final leg with injury.
The 31-year-old won the award last year following his double sprint triumph in Rio and has only failed to win the award twice since 2008 – the year he burst onto the scene at the Beijing Olympics.
According to the IAAF, a three-way voting process – which will end October 16 – will determine the three finalists in the men’s and women’s category.
