Incredible: Track And Field News Votes Amusan Sixth Best Athlete In 2022!
Nigerian ranked below Shericka Jackson and Faith Kipyegon
Respected United States journal Track and Field News says its 31-member international panel has voted Nigeria’s Tobiloba Amusan as the sixth best athlete in the world,
placing the Nigerian below some of the athletes she was ranked above by both World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics, CAA.
Amusan made World Athletics’ final five shortlist for the women’s athlete of the year award while the 25 year old Nigerian was named CAA’s female athlete of the year.
Like World Athletics, Track and Field News’ panel agrees that USA’s 400m barrier runner, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the best athlete in the world with Yulimar Rojas as the second best while two women outside World Athletics’ final five, Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson have been ranked third and fourth respectively.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica has been ranked the fifth best, just a step above Amusan.
The Nigerian is one of three women who broke the world record at the World Championships (indoor and out). Overall she won 10 of 17 races, including the Commonwealth Games and Diamond League Final titles.
Interestingly, this would be the first time since 1998 that Track and Field News will feature a Nigerian in its yearly top 10 ranking.
Sprint hurdler, Glory Alozie is the first Nigerian athlete to make the Track and Field News end of the year top 10 list.
Alozie who celebrated her 45th birthday on December 30 was voted the fourth best in 1998 after the Nigerian won 16 of 18 races and ended the year the fastest in the world over the high hurdles with the 12.44 she ran at the Herculis Zepter Golden League meeting in Monaco in August 1998.
Track And Field News’ 2022 Women’s Top 10
1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
2. Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela)
3. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)
4. Shericka Jackson (Jamaica)
5. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)
6. Tobi Amusan (Nigeria)
7. Norah Jeruto (Kazakhstan)
8. Athing Mu (USA)
9. Brooke Andersen (USA)
10. Valarie Allman (USA)
