USATF, the governing body for track and field in the United States, announced the winners of their year end awards, with Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone earning the top honors.
2022 was a year for the record books for both Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and they can add another accolade to their shelf before the new year. Lyles and McLaughiln-Levrone were awarded USATF’s top honors, the Jesse Owens Award and Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award, respectively.
Noah Lyles had a hallmark year for the sprint sensation. In addition to earning a USA, World, and Diamond League Championship in the 200 meters, he also bested Michael Johnson’s long-standing American Record in the event by .01 seconds, moving the mark to 19.31 seconds.
Nominees for the Jesse Owens Award also included Ryan Crouser, Grant Fisher, Grant Holloway, Fred Kerley, and Michael Norman. The 2022 Jesse Owens Male Athlete Award is Lyles’s second time receiving the award, the first coming in 2018.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone left no stone unturned in 2022 en route to earning the Jackie Joyner-Kersee award. Her undefeated season included gold medals at the USA and World Championships in the 400 meter hurdles, and a gold medal as part of the 4×400 World Championships relay team. McLaughlin-Levrone also consistently lowered her already staggering world record time in the 400mH throughout the season, culminating in a 50.68 second performance in the World Championship final.
Other nominees for the 2022 Jackie-Joyner Kersee Award were Brooke Andersen, Chase Ealey, Athing Mu, Katie Nageotte, Emily Sisson, and Kara Winger. This is the second consecutive year for McLaughlin-Levrone to take home the honor.
Additional awardees for the annual honors were Brad Walker, for Coach of the Year, and Roisin Willis, earning the Youth Athlete of the Year title. Walker coached both Katie Nageotte and Sandi Morris to a 1-2 finish at the World Championships (and once held the American Record in the pole vault himseld), and Willis was a double gold medalist at the World U20 Championships.
Masters athletes Jenny Hitchings and Florence “Flo” Meiler were named Masters Long Distance Running and Track and Field Athletes of the Year, respectively.
All recipients will be honored at the Night of Legends celebration as part of the USATF Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 3.
