Farah, van Niekerk among nominees for best athlete

MONACO – Mo Farah, Wayde van Niekerk and Mutaz Essa Barshim have been nominated for the IAAF world athlete of the year award.

Farah won the 10,000-meter title and a silver medal in the 5,000 at the world championships in London, while Van Niekerk defended his 400 title and finished second in the 200. Barshim won the world high jump title, clearing 2.35 metres without a miss.

The women’s nominees were Ethiopian distance runner Almaz Ayana, Greek pole vaulter Ekaterini Stefanidi and heptathlon world champion Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium.