SETTING A RECORD in your category is frequently a must if you’re going to win AOY recognition, but this year’s women’s indoor honors found all four winners putting multiple entries into the books.
Our 2024 awards:
World Women: Femke Bol (Netherlands)
Femke Bol and Devynne Charlton each set a pair of World Records and won World Indoor gold, but the Dutch star narrowly repeated as AOY by going undefeated while the Bahamian had a loss. Bol’s pair of records came in the 400, where she ran 49.24 and then 49.17. For good measure she also produced the Nos. 6 and =9 performances ever.
Charlton’s pair of WRs came in the 60H, where she ran 7.67, then 7.65. She also produced the =No. 4 performance ever. Joining Charlton in the HM category is world 3000 champ Elle St. Pierre, who moved to No. 3 on the all-time list. The yearly mile leader, she also moved to No. 3 there.
The 5 most recent previous winners: ’23 — Bol; ’22 — Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela); ’21 — Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia); ’20 — Rojas; ’19 — Mariya Lasitskene (Russia).
U.S. Women: Elle St. Pierre (New Balance)
After missing essentially all of the ’23 season following childbirth, St. Pierre bounced back in fine style this year, being the only setter of a pair of ARs
She opened with a 3000 that missed the national standard by a mere 0.20, an 8:25.25 that moved her to No. 8 on the all-time world list. Next up was an AR-setting mile of 4:16.41 and the capper was a gold-winning 8:20.87 AR in Scotland.
HM honors to Tia Jones, who equaled the 60H WR (but was unable to compete at the WIC) and long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, who joined St. Pierre as the only U.S. gold medalists in Glasgow.
The 5 most recent previous winners: ’23 — Jasmine Moore (Florida); ’22 — Ajee’ Wilson (adidas); ’21 — Athing Mu (Texas A&M); ’20 — Wilson; ’19 — Wilson.
Collegiate Women: Parker Valby (Florida)
For the second year in a row the top collegian was a Gator junior. Already the school year’s XC champion, Valby added a 3000/5000 double on the track and can consider going for another pair outdoors. She moved to No. 3 on the all-time 3000 list and twice lowered the 5000’s CR, at 14:56.11 and 14:52.79.
It’s rare that two athletes from the same event can both be honored, but HM status is accorded to a pair of high jumpers: Texas…
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