Valerie Vili a finalist for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year Award

New Zealand’s world shot put champion Valerie Vili has been shortlisted for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year award.

The five female finalists announced by the IAAF are: pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva Russia, 400m runner Sanya Richards USA, Valerie Vili New Zealand, high jumper Blanka Vlasic Croatia and hammer thrower Anita Wlodarczyk Poland.

Vili won the world shot put title in Osaka in 2007 and at the world championships in Berlin in August retained the title with an emphatic performance which shattered her rivals. Last year in Beijing Vili won the Olympic Games shot put gold medal.

In September Vili won the world athletic final in Greece, extending the shot put out to an Oceania and New Zealand record, of over 21 metres for the first time.

The male finalists are: long distance runner Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia, sprinter Usain Bolt Jamaica, sprinter Tyson Gay USA, pole vaulter Steven Hooker Australia and javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen Norway.

The winners of the 2009 World Athlete of the Year Awards will be announced during the 2009 World Athletics Gala in Monaco on 22 November.