Hooker nominated for IAAF athlete of the year

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... ection=all

Hooker a chance for world athletics gong
Posted November 10, 2009 18:33:00
Updated November 10, 2009 18:41:00


High achievements: Hooker produced an injury-defying performance to take out the world championship in Berlin in August. (Getty Images: Andy Lyons)
World and Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker has joined some exclusive company in being shortlisted for the male world track and field athlete of the year award.

The Australian has been nominated alongside Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt, Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele, American sprinter Tyson Gay and Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen.

One of the five will be named the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) men's athlete of the year.

Hooker claimed gold at the Beijing Olympics last year, set a new national record of 6.06m in Boston in February and then produced an injury-defying performance to take out the world championship in Berlin in August.

The 27-year-old said he was thrilled to be named in a shortlist of such talented athletes.

"It's pretty amazing to be named alongside Usain and Kenenisa, who both collected multiple world championships this year," he said.

"Although, I reckon like most people who line up in a race against Usain Bolt, we're racing for second here."

"It's a massive honour when you look at the names on the list to think that the world experts of athletics believe I am in the top five.

"It's pretty satisfying."

The five finalists were announced following a three-week poll of athletics identities worldwide, whose nominations gave rise to the final candidates for the international federation's top honour .

The winners of the 2009 World Athlete of the Year awards will be announced in Monaco on November 22.

- AAP