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 2023 awards:
World Women: Femke Bol (Netherlands)
Femke Bol and Nafi Thiam both broke vintage WRs. In Bol’s case she did so twice, starting by running the 500 in 1:05.63, eclipsing a mark that was set 17 years ago. But that was nothing compared to her subsequent cracking of the all-time 400 best with a 49.26 that came just before the old mark turned 41. For good measure, she added the Nos. 8 & 9 performances ever. She was a clear No. 1.
Thiam leads the way as an Honorable Mention, the Belgian’s 5055 pentathlon total taking down a mark that had stood since ’12. HM also to Briton Keely Hodgkinson, who ran the fastest 600 ever (1:23.41) and moved to No. 6 of all-time in the 800 (1:57.18).
The 5 most recent winners: ’22 — Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela); ’21 — Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia); ’20 — Rojas; ’19 — Mariya Lasitskene (Russia); ’18 — Lasitskene.
U.S. Women: Jasmine Moore (Florida)
The all-time U.S. triple jump list got demolished by Moore at the NCAA, where she produced the 5 farthest jumps ever. As part of her exquisite series she upped the AR 3 times, finally to 49-7¼ (15.12). For good measure she also moved to =No. 3 on the long jump ATL, reaching 23-¾ (7.03).
There were AR-producing Honorable Mentions galore: Aleia Hobbs (60), Abby Steiner (300), Britton Wilson (400), Alicia Monson (3000), DeAnna Price (2 WRs in the weight) & Anna Hall (pentathlon).
The 5 most recent winners: ’22 — Ajee’ Wilson (adidas); ’21 — Athing Mu (Texas A&M); ’20 — Wilson; ’19 — Wilson; ’18 — Keni Harrison (adidas); ’17 — Gwen Berry (Nike).
Collegiate Women: Moore
As good as she was at the U.S. level, Moore was even better in repeating as our top collegian. The Gator junior’s trio of CRs in the TJ were joined by another in the LJ.
Britton Wilson (Arkansas), whose AR was also a CR, and who won at the NCAA, get HM here too. She’s joined by CR setters/NCAA champs Julien Alfred of Texas (60 & 200) & Ackera Nugent of Arkansas (60H) plus NC State’s Katelyn Tuohy, who won the 3000 & 5000 titles and set CRs in the 1500, mile & 3000.
The 5 most recent winners: ’22 — Moore; ’21 — Tyra Gittens (Texas A&M); ’20 — Olivia Gruver (Washington); ’19 — Lexi Jacobus (Arkansas); ’18 — Keturah Orji (Georgia).
HS Girls: Shawnti Jackson (South Granville, Creedmoor, North Carolina)
Her season was cut a bit short by injury, but while healthy Jackson put her name in the sprint recordbooks 3 times, equaling the fastest 55 ever (6.67) and setting new standards in the 60 (7.16) and 300 (36.63). She was also No. 2 on the yearly list in the 400 (53.47).
4 HMs: ubiquitous Sophia Gorriaran (Brown, Providence), who topped the yearly lists in the 500, 600, 800, 1000 & mile; 200 recordsetter Adaejah Hodge (Academy, Montverde, Florida); vault twins Amanda & Hana Moll (Capital, Olympia, Washington). Each claimed an HSR, Amanda the absolute one, Hana the low-altitude best. Hana won the seasonal series 3–2.
The 5 most recent winners: ’22 — Roisin Willis (Stevens Point, Wisconsin); ’21 — Sophia Gorriaran (Brown, Providence, Rhode Island); ’20 — Athing Mu (Central, Trenton, New Jersey); ’19 — Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland, Thiells, New York); ’18 — Tuohy.