MOSCOW, November 5 (R-Sport) – Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Kenya's David Rudisha and U.S. hurdler Aries Merritt are in the running for World Athlete of the Year Award, the sport's governing body announced Monday.
Three-time winner Bolt is heavily favored to claim the accolade for a second-straight year after sweeping the sprint titles at the London Olympics.
The 23-year-old Rudisha, who won in 2010, was nominated after shattering the 800 meters world record in the London final.
Merritt, meanwhile, broke the 110 meter hurdles world record in September following his Olympic triumph in the event.
The IAAF arrived at the three nominees after their peers were asked to pick from a list of ten of the year's top athletes.
The winner will be announced in Barcelona on November 24.
The women’s shortlist is yet to be announced.
