Jesse Owens Award poll results...
In paulmerca.blogspot.com's first poll, we asked you in cyberland who should receive USA Track & Field's Jesse Owens Award for 2007.
On the women's side, 72% voted for Allyson Felix, with Shalane Flanagan receiving 28%.
The men proved a different story--it was a dead heat between Bernard Lagat & Jeremy Wariner at 33%, with Tyson Gay at 22%, and Alan Webb at 11%.
No question on who I ended up voting for--Allyson had by far the best season of any American woman in 2007.
On the men's side, it was a lot tougher to decide. Using many of the same criteria Track & Field News uses to make its annual rankings (honors won, major wins vs. significant opponents, consistency over a season, times), here's how I ranked them:
7--Webb: American record in the mile, and the world's fastest time at 1500, but no medal.
6--Greer: American record in the javelin, best throw in the world this year, but only a bronze in Osaka.
4 (tie)--Hoffa/Walker: Gold medals for both in Osaka; both had the best marks in the world in their events, but hampered by some losses.
3--Lagat: I thought that he was shaky early in the season; losing to Webb at nationals in June was a big strike against him, along with his early European results.
2--Gay: Three gold medals in Osaka, dominant against other Americans, but not quite as dominant against the rest of the world.
1--Wariner, in a very close call! This one will be argued by voters, fans, etc., but at the end of the day, the only thing that stood out was his dominance of the 400 against the rest of the world.
Look for another poll soon!
On the women's side, 72% voted for Allyson Felix, with Shalane Flanagan receiving 28%.
The men proved a different story--it was a dead heat between Bernard Lagat & Jeremy Wariner at 33%, with Tyson Gay at 22%, and Alan Webb at 11%.
No question on who I ended up voting for--Allyson had by far the best season of any American woman in 2007.
On the men's side, it was a lot tougher to decide. Using many of the same criteria Track & Field News uses to make its annual rankings (honors won, major wins vs. significant opponents, consistency over a season, times), here's how I ranked them:
7--Webb: American record in the mile, and the world's fastest time at 1500, but no medal.
6--Greer: American record in the javelin, best throw in the world this year, but only a bronze in Osaka.
4 (tie)--Hoffa/Walker: Gold medals for both in Osaka; both had the best marks in the world in their events, but hampered by some losses.
3--Lagat: I thought that he was shaky early in the season; losing to Webb at nationals in June was a big strike against him, along with his early European results.
2--Gay: Three gold medals in Osaka, dominant against other Americans, but not quite as dominant against the rest of the world.
1--Wariner, in a very close call! This one will be argued by voters, fans, etc., but at the end of the day, the only thing that stood out was his dominance of the 400 against the rest of the world.
Look for another poll soon!
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