The finalists of three men and three women were determined following a three-way voting process from 10 male and 10 female nominees.

Farah, the 10-time global gold medalist, and van Niekerk, the Olympic and world 400m champion, are joined by Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar. Barshim won high jump gold at the World Championships in London.

Van Niekerk wrote on Twitter: “such an honour to be recognized as a finalist again. Just to be mentioned alongside such amazing athletes is special“.

The three athletes were voted ahead of Poland’s Pawel Fajdek, Elijah Manangoi of Kenya, South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga, Jamician Omar McLeod, Germany’s Johannes Vetter and American duo Sam Kendricks and Christian Taylor.

Almaz Ayana, the 10,000m Olympic and world champion, will contest the women’s award alongside Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi and Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam. All three won world gold at London 2017 in their respective events, with Thiam adding the heptathlon title to her Olympic gold won at Rio 2016.

Farah who won retained his world 10,000m gold in London, recently revealed he’s leaving his coach Alberto Salazar and will return to London. The 34-year-old will be coached by Paula Radcliffe’s husband Gary Lough as he attempts to make his mark on the roads.

The 400m world record holder, van Niekerk, attempted to become the first man since Michael Johnson in 1995 to win both the 200m and 400m titles this summer. However, he was unable to replicate Johnson after missing out on the 200m gold.

The 25-year-old announced last week that he will miss the Commonwealth Games next year after suffering a knee ligament injury during a celebrity touch rugby game.

The nominees were announced last month, with fans voting online via the IAAF’s social media platforms and IAAF Council and the IAAF Family voting by email. The Council’s vote counting for 50%, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes made up 25% each.

The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 in Monaco on Friday 24 November.

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The 400m world and Olympic champion, who has been nominated by the IAAF for athlete of the year, suffered the knee ligament injury during a celebrity touch rugby game in Cape Town.

Van Niekerk, who was planning to compete in both the 100m and 200m at Gold Coast Games, has now travelled to the United States for surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and suffering medial and lateral tears of the meniscus as a result of the injury.

The 25-year-old will then undergo a six month period of rehabilitation in Vail, Doha and South Africa, his management company confirmed in a statement.

“I was looking forward to competing in the 100m and 200m events in Gold Coast, and participating at the national championships in March, so this is unfortunate timing,” Van Niekerk said.

“But this is sport and these things happen. I trust that the team I have around me, including the medical professionals, will make this process as smooth as possible.”

“I have faith that, God willing, I’ll be able to race again later next year. Full recovery is going to be crucial, so I’ll be patient, but I will work as hard as I can to get back on the track as soon as possible,” added the 400m world record holder.

At the World Championships in London this summer Van Niekerk attempted to become the first man since Michael Johnson in 1995 to win both the 200m and 400m titles, however, he faced an uphill struggle with the demanding schedule of races taking a tole. The South African star won the 400m gold and Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev was the surprise 200m winner.

Van Niekerk added later on Twitter: “Thanks to all for the kind wishes! Sadly I announce now that I’ll be off the track for a while. Will be back stronger!”

Thanks to all for the kind wishes!Sadly I announce now that I'll be off the track for a while.Will be back stronger! https://t.co/grvzwspVEn

— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) October 31, 2017

The post Wayde van Niekerk ruled out of Commonwealth Games appeared first on Fast Running.

The athletes shortlisted include Britain’s Mo Farah, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, Australia’s Sally Pearson and Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana.

Justin Gatlin has not been included on the shortlist, and it’s the first time since 2004 that the 100m Olympic or world champion has not been included among the nominees.

The shortlist was selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF.

The 20 nominees for Male and Female 2017 World Athlete of the Year are listed below.

Men
Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT)
Pawel Fajdek (POL)
Mohamed Farah (GBR)
Sam Kendricks (USA)
Elijah Manangoi (KEN)
Luvo Manyonga RSA)
Omar McLeod (JAM)
Christian Taylor (USA)
Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)
Johannes Vetter (GER)

Women
Almaz Ayana (ETH)
Maria Lasitskene (ANA)
Hellen Obiri (KEN)
Sally Pearson (AUS)
Sandra Perkovic (CRO)
Brittney Reese (USA)
Caster Semenya (RSA)
Ekaterini Stefanidi (GRE)
Nafissatou Thiam (BEL)
Anita Wlodarczyk (POL)

This week marks the opening of the voting process and fans can vote online via the IAAF’s social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook and Twitter later this week; a ‘like’ or ‘favourite’ will count as one vote.

IAAF Council and the IAAF Family will cast their votes by email, with the Council’s vote counting for 50%, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25%.

Voting closes on 16 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, three men and three women finalists will be announced by the IAAF.

The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017.

The post Mo Farah, Wayde van Niekerk & Sally Pearson Among Nominees for World Athlete of the Year appeared first on Fast Running.

Van Niekerk, who finished second to Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev in the 200m final, feels he does not get respect for all his achievements.

The post Watch: Wayde Van Niekerk Breaks Down In Interview appeared first on Fast Running.

The 21-year-old took the race from the start and produced a perfectly-paced race to cross the line in 48.35 seconds.

The former decathlete’s gold medal is Norway’s first world track gold since Ingrid Kristiansen in 1987.

Turkey’s Tasmani Capello finished strong to take silver, with USA’s Kerron Clement settling for bronze.

Earlier this year, Warholm impressed when he set a personal best of 48.25 to win the Bislett Games in front of a home Norwegian crowd, but no one expected a World Championships gold medal to come this year.

Watch his reaction below.

In the 200m semi-finals, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala and South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk both qualified for the final.

Earlier in the evening, Makwala ran a solo time trial to make the final, after he was barred from Monday’s heats.

Van Niekerk,who won the 400m gold on Tuesday, only made it through as a fastest loser after finishing third in his semi-final, but the 400m world record holder won’t mind how he made it through, as long as he adds the 200m gold to his 400m title.

In the first semi-final, Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake finished third in 20.19 to qualify, while team-mates Danny Talbot and Zharnel Hughes failed to make it through.

With 20 metres to go Shaunae Miller-Uibo was leading the women’s 400m final, before suffering an apparent leg injury, which forced her to seize up. Seeing the opportunity, Phyllis Francis pounced, and powered home to win the gold in 49.92, a personal best for the American athlete.

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser took silver in 50.06, another national record, with USA’s Allyson Felix taking bronze in 50.08.

The post Former decathlete Karsten Warholm wins 400m hurdles gold appeared first on Fast Running.

The South African who is doubling with the 200m, won the second semi-final in 44.22.

Van Niekerk was the third fastest across all three semi-finals, but with the 200m early rounds yet to start, and now a 400m final to come, the 25-year-old is simply conserving his best performances for when it matters most.

In what was a tough field, Matthew Hudson-Smith finished fourth in 44.74, a seasons best for the British athlete, but just missing out on qualification as a fastest loser.

In the same semi-final, Ireland’s Brian Gregan ran a gutsy race, finishing strong over the final 40 metres to clinch sixth place ahead of USA’s LaShawn Merrit, crossing the line in 45.42.

Finishing second to Van Niekerk, was Baboloki Thebe of Botswana in 44.33.

Steven Gardiner of Bahamas won the first semi-final of the evening in 43.89, setting a new national record. Jamaica’s Nathon Allen finished second in a personal best 44.19, to also qualify for the final.

The third semi-final was won by Isaac Makwala of Botswana, with Jamica’s Demish Gaye in second.

Completing the lineup for Tuesday’s final, are Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar and USA’s Fred Kerley qualifying as fastest losers.

The post World record holder Van Niekerk eases into 400m final appeared first on Fast Running.

The Olympic champion won his 400m heat with ease, crossing the line in 45.28 to book his place in the semi-finals.

The South African, who is doubling in the 200m and 400m, looked relaxed and very much like someone who was saving their best for later rounds.

Also qualifying for the semi-finals were Britain’s Dwayne Cowan, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Ireland’s Brian Gregan, while GB’s Martyn Rooney missed out.

The other 400m heat winners were USA’s Fred Kerle, Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe and Isaac Makwala, and Steve Gardiner of the Bahamas.

In the women’s hammer, GB’s Sophie Hitchon made it through to the women’s final.

GB’s Daryll Neita won her 100m heat to automatically qualify for the semi-finals, while teammates Asha Philip and Desiree Henry went through as fastest losers.

In the men’s 800m, GB’s Guy Learmonth and Elliot Giles gained automatic qualification, while Kyle Langford went through as a fastest loser. Ireland’s Mark English missed out.

In the heptathlon, GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s ran 13.33 in the 100m hurdles, her first event of the day. The high jump was the 24-year-old’s second event, but it was a disappointing performance from Johnson-Thompson, failing to clear 1.86m in three attempts.

It leaves Johnson-Thompson in fifth place after two events, 162 points adrift Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam.

The post Relaxed Wayde van Niekerk eases into 400m semi-finals appeared first on Fast Running.

Bolt will headline the 100m, in what should be the final Diamond League meet of his amazing career. The race will not feature medal favourites for next month’s World Championships; USA’s Justin Gatlin and Canadian Andre De Grasse.

Britain’s CJ Utah, who has won three Diamond League races this year, will challenge Bolt, as will Jamaica’s 110m hurdles champion, Omar McLeod.

Earlier this week, Canada’s De Grasse suggested he had been removed from the 100m race at the request of Bolt. De Grasse will instead now race as part of the Canadian 4x100m relay team.

In the women’s 3000m race Laura Muir, will face Kenya’s Olympic 5000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri for the second time in two weeks, following their race over one mile, in London.

Other British athletes in the 3000m include Eilish McColgan and Steph Twell.

South African Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk will race in the men’s 400m. Fellow South African and Olympic champion Caster Semenya will return to her signature 800m event, after racing over 400m in last week’s Diamond League in Rabat.

The winner of the women’s 400m at last week’s Diamond League, Olympic 400m champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo will drops down to the 200m in Monaco.

The women’s 110m hurdles features a strong field, that includes Australia’s Sally Pearson, USA’s Keni Harrison, Nia Ali and Jasmin Stowers.

GB’s Eilidh Doyle will race in the 400m hurdles.

USA’s Olympic 1500m champion Matt Centrowitz, will be tested by two of Kenya’s top young talents Timothy Cheruiyot and Ronald Kwemoi. Three three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop will also feature.

In the men’s 3000m USA’s Olympic silver medallist Evan Jager will face Kenya’s Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto.

In the men’s javelin Germany’s Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, and World Championship favourite Johannes Vetter and will face one another once again.

The post Usain Bolt leads star Diamond League field in Monaco appeared first on Fast Running.

The changes will give all athletes, and in particular stars South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, and Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas. the opportunity of a 200m / 400m double.

The changes approved to the timetable of IAAF World Championships London 2017 (4 to 13 August) are as follows:

• Men’s 200m round 1 moved from day 5 (8 Aug) to day 4 (7 Aug)

• Women’s 200m round 1 moved from day 6 (9 Aug) to day 5 (8 Aug)

• Women’s 3000m steeplechase round 1 moved from day 5 (8 Aug) to day 6 (9 Aug)

IAAF President, Sebastian Coe commented: “This summer’s World Championships are close to my heart. 12 years ago London won the right to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. That decision led to the building of the Olympic Park and the stadium and a decision to keep the track after the Games. This in turn meant that London could bid for and host this summer’s championships. With just four months to go until competition begins, I look at the success story which is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and am grateful to the LOC and so many other people for believing in and delivering this extraordinary legacy. I see a vibrant community space, the former athletes’ village redeveloped into housing and a series of world-class sporting venues being used by Londoners on a daily basis and hosting international sporting events. This was the dream we all had over a decade ago.

“I am also delighted that the Council today approved the 200m and 400m double. These double headers create great excitement among both athletes and fans.”

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