My choice of the year's best athletes

Usually this list is published earlier. However this year, since the season was quite long, with the World's taking place at the beginning of October, everything has been delayed. In fact I had to interrupt the publication of my report on the World's in order to publish the top list before the IAAF nominated their best athletes. (But don't worry, the report on field events will appear soon). 

So here is my list of the year's best men.

E. Kipchoge 

is again number one for me. What he did in Vienna with the first below 2 hours Marathon was almost superhuman. Of course, he has already been number one in the IAAF's list , as well as in mine, last year but I do not care. To my eyes he is the best.

K. Warholm 

has dominated the 400 m hurdles and has come within a breath of the world record. I am convinced that thanks to his efforts (and the competition from the remaining musketeers) the world record is in life support.

M. Barshim 

completes my podium. I spent quite some time choosing the third of the list and finally I decided that Barshim was worth it, be it only because he managed to rise to the occasion and win the title as he did.

And now without any specific order.

J. Cheptegei, who won both the world cross-country and the 10000 m in the championships.

T. Cheruyiot, who won the World's 1500 m as if there were no other competitors.

S. Kendricks, for his 6.06 m but also his incredible self-control during the World's competition.

C. Kipruto, who managed to come back from injury and win the 3000 m steeple in a"heroic" sprint.

P. Fajdek, for his fourth consecutive world title.

S. Gardiner, the absolute master of the 400 m in 2019.

N. Lyles, the best sprinter of the year.

D. Stahl, for winning the world title and making us hope for a new world record in a near future.

A. Peters, who shocked the athletics community by repeating Walcott's feat.

And a special mention for the three shot-putters, Kovacs, Crouser and Walsh who gave us the most thrilling shot put competition ever. 

And now, the list of best women.

D. Muhammad 

is my number one. There is no doubt whatsoever that she is the best ,despite the fact that S. McLaughlin manages to beat her from time to time. Two world records and a world title are more than enough to justify her position a the top of the list.

S. Hassan 

was the only athlete to win two individual gold medals in Doha. She dominated completely her events, registering a great European Record over 1500m with 3:51.95. And as if that was not enough, she broke also the mile world record with 4:12.33.

B. Kosgei

erased the old record of mixed-race Marathon of P. Radcliffe, with 2:14.04. She also ran faster than the official half-marathon world record but, unfortunately, on the slightly downhill course of the Great North Run.

And now without any specific order.

B. Chepkoech, who dominated the discipline of 3000 m steeple and won the world title.

M. Lasitskene, who won the world title with 2.04 and is our main hope for a new world record.

M. Mihambo, unbeaten in long jump, she registered a great 7.30 in Doha.

S. McLaughlin, even though she is number two in the 400 m hurdles she is perfectly worth her place in the top list.

S. Naser, for her superb (and a tad unexpected) victory and performance over the 400 m.

Y. Rojas, who is now at a few centimetres from the world record. (Ah, if only she improved her style).

Y. Pérez, the best discus thrower today. Next stop, over 70 m.

There are two athletes who are not part of the IAAF list for reasons I have trouble understanding.

S. Miller-Uibo, who was unbeaten over 200 m with a world leading 21.74, and lost only one race over 400 m (admittedly the one that counted) but with a great performance.

D. Asher-Smith, who won the world title in the 200 m and was second in the 100 m with two great performances.

For reference, the IAAF list is 
MEN

Donavan Brazier (USA)
Christian Coleman (USA)
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)
Timothy Cheruyiot (KEN)
Steven Gardiner (BAH)
Sam Kendricks (USA)
Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
Noah Lyles (USA)
Daniel Stahl (SWE)
Christian Taylor (USA)
Karsten Warholm (NOR)

WOMEN

Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN)
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR)
Sifan Hassan (NED)
Brigid Kosgei (KEN)
Mariya Lasitskene (ANA)
Malaika Mihambo (GER)
Dalilah Muhammad (USA)
Salwa Eid Naser (BRN)
Hellen Obiri (KEN)
Yulimar Rojas (VEN)


The top list is usually complemented by that of the young talents. It is clear that both Naser and McLaughlin would qualify for the list (in fact McLaughlin won last year) but now they figure in the main list. A. Duplantis and J. Ingebrigtsen  do not appear in the main list but by now their reputation is so well established that I am reluctant to consider them as young talents (although they are young and immensely talented). 

So, here is my list of young talents. For men

N. Kaul

the decathlon World Champion is the indisputable number one. (He may still have been number one even if we had considered Duplantis and Ingebrigtsen). 

The next positions are occupied by 
J. Diaz, who jumped 17.49 at the triple jump this year and was 8th at the World's.
M. Kokhan, who threw 77.39 at the hammer throw and was 5th at the World's.
B.K. Lita Baehre, who was 4th in the pole vault at the World's with 5.70.

For women
Y. Mahuchikh

who broke twice the World Junior Record and was second at the World with 2.04 is young talent number one.

The two next positions are occupied by 
W. Yavi, who was 4th in the World's 3000 m steeple and won the Asian championships.
E. Oosterwegel, who was 7th in the World's heptathlon and is an excellent javelin thrower.