KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s two-time World Athletics Championships 200m gold medalist, Shericka Jackson, has been shortlisted for the World Athletics Women’s World Athlete of the Year award.

Jackson was named in the list of five athletes who scored the most votes in the first round, where 11 athletes were originally nominated for the honour.

According to the World Athletics website, “The five athletes, representing five countries from four area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2023, winning titles and breaking world records at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, one-day meeting circuits, Label road races, and other events around the world.”

The other four finalists are Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, Holland’s Femke Bol, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, and Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas. The five finalists were determined after a three-way voting process involving the World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family casting their votes by email, while fans logged their decisions online via the World Athletics social media platforms, where a record 2 million votes were registered.

The World Athletes of the Year will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms on December 11, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.

-Paul A Reid