by Alfonz Juck
Sam Kendricks, photo by PhotoRun.net
Sam Kendricks and Tori Bowie
MOUNTAIN VIEW (USA): Sam Kendricks and Tori Bowie are the US Athletes of the Year 2017 by Track and Field News. Kendricks is first ever male pole vaulter winning this poll. It was a good year for jumpers with Christian Taylor taking the No. 2 spot. No tripler has won since the ’80s. They got 296 and 271 points, third is Justin Gatlin 204 just edging Ryan Crouser 201. Fifth Will Claye 137 ahead of Christian Coleman 134 and Evan Jager 131. In the top ten 8th Jarrion Lawson 83 followed by Joe Kovacs 70 and Fred Kerley 44. In women order top 5 were separated by 43 points. Bowie got 222 with Emma Coburn second 200 and Brittney Reese third 199, fourth place for Sandi Morris 182 and fifth Kori Carter 181. In the 6th place Ajee Wilson 133 with Kendra Harrison 7th 120 and Phyllis Francis 8th 116. Dalilah Muhammad was 9th 72 and Jenny Simpson 10th 38.
Tori Bowie, photo by PhotoRun.netRunBlogRun opines: Sam Kendricks and Tori Bowie are fine picks on a tough year for TFN selectors. Across the board, a fine group of American track & field athletes in 2017. Why? Because grass roots health of sport is at its highest with 17,000 high school track programs, nearly 2600 college and jr college programs and thousands of clubs.
At the highest levels, many of the finest coaches in the world are Americans, some who coach U.S. athletes and some who coach athletes from around the globe. Nice job by our friends at TFN on their U.S. picks (liked their global picks too).
