Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

Bolt

Jamaica's Athletes of the Year will be known today at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association 'Athlete of the Year' awards luncheon, to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus today.

Olympic Games triple gold medallist, Usain Bolt, who won the 100m in 9:69 seconds, the 200m in 19:30 and helped Jamaica to the 4x100m gold medal in 37.10 - all world record times - looks set to easily cop the Male Athlete of the Year Award.He has already been voted the International Association of Athletics Federations' Male Athlete of the Year for 2008.

Female contenders

However, the choice for the female Athlete of the Year is not as straightforward.

Veronica Campbell-Brown, the second female to win back-to-back Olympic 200m titles when she romped to victory in Beijing in 21.74 seconds; Shelly-Ann Fraser, who became the first Jamaican to win the Olympic 100m, with a 10.78-second clocking in Beijing and Melaine Walker, the 400m hurdles champion in an Olympic Record (52.64), are the contenders.

Fraser, despite winning track and field's marquee event, could be the first to be eliminated as she suffered many defeats on the circuit, winning just more than half of her races.

Hence, it appears a neck and neck battle between the others.

Campbell-Brown, who ran both the 100m and 200m throughout the season, suffered two defeats in the year - both at the National Stadium, in separate events. And Walker, who apart from an early defeat, which came way back in February, enjoyed 15 successive victories, including her Olympic title-run.

Campbell-Brown had six sub-11 100m times and three sub-22 clockings in the 200m, while Walker, apart from becoming the fourth fastest woman ever over the one-lap hurdles event, also claimed the record previously held by her compatriot and national record holder, Deon Hemmings-McCatty.

The awards luncheon will also recognise the Coach of the Year, which is expected to be national senior team head coach Glen Mills, who is also Bolt's coach.

Campbell-brown

Walker