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Monte-Carlo - Following the survey of the IAAF Family and the votes of the Internet fans, the IAAF has selected the three male and three female finalists who are still in the running towards becoming the 2007 World Athlete of the Year.
Finalists are: (in alphabetical order)
Men
Tyson Gay USA
Haile Gebrselassie ETH
Liu Xiang CHN
Women
Meseret Defar ETH
Carolina Klüft SWE
Blanka Vlasic CRO
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25-year-old Tyson Gay is the current World champion for the men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. In 2007 the American has also completed the best ever 100m/200m sprint double when winning the US Trials.
Tyson Gay’s credentials
o Has won three gold medals at the World Championships in Osaka
o Has won 7 out of his 8 100m races and 4 out of 4 200m races this season
o Has run 5 times 10 seconds or under at 100m and 5 times 20 seconds or under at 200m
o Has run the best ever 100m/200m sprint double at the US Trials
o Has set a new 200m Championships record in Osaka
23-year-old Meseret Defar is the current World champion for the women’s 5000m. In 2007, the Ethiopian has set a World 5000m record at the Oslo Golden League meeting and a 2 Miles World Best at the Brussels Golden League meeting. She also set an Indoor World record at 3000m.
Meseret Defar’s credentials
o Has won her first World Championships gold medal at 5000m in Osaka
o Has remained undefeated in all her outdoor and indoor track competitions
o Has set a World 5000m record and a World Indoor 3000m record
o Has set a 2 Mile World best
o Has run the fastest 3000m and 5000m of the year
The winners of the 2007 World Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced live, on stage, during the 2007 World Athletics Gala, which will take place in Monaco, on 25 November 2007.