AW review of 2017

We take a look back at the year in athletics as 2017 comes to a close

It has been another action-packed year for athletics. Before we get stuck into 2018, we’ve gathered links to AW coverage from the past 12 months as a reminder of some of the biggest news in the world of the sport. Take a look at the links below and then tell us which stories really stood out for you in 2017 – get vocal and tweet us @AthleticsWeekly, pop a comment on Facebook or post on our forum.

January

» World decathlon record-holder Ashton Eaton and Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Brianne Theisen-Eaton announced their decision to retire.

» Laura Muir started 2017 with a bang by smashing the UK indoor 5000m record in Glasgow.

» Muir then helped Britain to Great Edinburgh XCountry relay victory, while Callum Hawkins was pipped by Leonard Korir in a thrilling senior men’s race.

» Six-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir confirmed his retirement from international athletics.

» Sprinters James Ellington and Nigel Levine sustained serious injuries in a motorbike crash in Tenerife.

» Andrew Butchart broke the Scottish 3000m record in Boston.

February

» Laura Muir stormed to a European 3000m record in Karlsruhe.

» Continuing the success of Scottish athletes, Callum Hawkins smashed the Scottish half-marathon record in Japan.

» The IAAF announced that it would be freezing its transfer of allegiance process.

» Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba broke the world 2000m record in Sabadell.

» Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir broke the world half-marathon record in Ras Al Khaimah.

» The Bolt All-Stars team (pictured below) won the inaugural Nitro Athletics series in Australia.

» Tom Bosworth broke the British 5000m race walk record in Sheffield.

» Mo Farah smashed the European indoor 5000m record to end his indoor racing career in superb style at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham.

» AW‘s results editor Steve Smythe achieved a record 40-year span of sub-3:00 marathons after clocking 2:56:21 in Seville.

image: http://www.athleticsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Bolt-Nitro-Con-Chronis-Nitro-Athletics-750x450.jpg

March

» Andrew Pozzi won European indoor 60m hurdles gold, while Laura Muir broke the British record to claim the European indoor 1500m title and Richard Kilty retained his 60m title. Muir then won the 3000m to complete an historic Euro Indoors double, while Asha Philip broke the British 60m record to gain gold.

» Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor crushed host nation hopes to retain his World Cross title, while Irene Chepet Cheptai led a Kenyan clean sweep in the women’s race in Kampala.

April

» Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei smashed four world records at the Prague Half Marathon.

» Brendan Foster announced his decision to retire as BBC Sport commentator after London 2017.

» Tributes were paid to Olympic high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason after his death in a motorcycle crash in Jamaica.

» Kenya’s Mary Keitany broke the women-only marathon world record in London, while Daniel Wanjiru claimed the men’s title and David Weir raced to a record seventh win.

May

» British javelin record-holder Goldie Sayers announced her retirement from competitive athletics.

» Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge clocked an incredible 2:00:25 marathon during Nike’s Breaking2 attempt in Italy (pictured below).

» Holly Bradshaw broke the British outdoor pole vault record at the Great CityGames Manchester, while Tirunesh Dibaba and Dathan Ritzenhein claimed 10km wins on an emotional weekend for the city.

» Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam broke 7000 points in an historic heptathlon competition in Götzis.

image: http://www.athleticsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Eliud-Kipchoge-Breaking-2-Nike-750x451.jpg

June

» With a dominating performance in Lille, Germany regained the European Team Championships Super League trophy while Britain finished fourth.

» South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk broke the 300m world best in Ostrava.

July

» Britain’s Olympic and world gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu admitted retirement was not too far away after missing out on the 400m final at the British Championships.

» Tom Bosworth broke the world mile race walk record, while Laura Muir improved the Scottish mile record at the Anniversary Games.

» Hannah Cockroft smashed the T34 100m world record at the World Para Athletics Championships in London, while Stef Reid gained her first global gold with a world long jump win.

» Hollie Arnold, Sammi Kinghorn and Sophie Hahn won global golds with world record-breaking performances, Richard Whitehead claimed the world 200m title and Aled Davies retained the world discus title with a record throw.

» Holly Bradshaw improved her own British outdoor pole vault record, clearing 4.81m in Germany.

» Jonnie Peacock claimed a dominant win for the world T44 100m title, while Olivia Breen leapt a lifetime best for long jump gold.

» Sophie Kamlish and Hannah Cockroft raced to more world gold medal success in London, while Ireland’s Jason Smyth completed a world sprint double.

» Hannah Cockroft gained a third world gold and Georgie Hermitage won in a world record (pictured below), while Kadeena Cox also triumphed in London.

» Aled Davies smashed the world F42 shot put record in London, Sophie Hahn and Georgie Hermitage ran records to win world gold and Sammi Kinghorn completed a world sprint double.

» Tributes were paid to athletics stalwart Bob Smith, with the member of England Athletics staff having made a huge contribution to the sport.

image: http://www.athleticsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Georgie-Hermitage-and-Hannah-Cockroft-London-2017-by-Mark-Shearman-750x450.jpg

August

» Brendan Foster was awarded the IAAF Golden Order of Merit for his major contributions to the advancement of athletics.

» The IAAF World Championships got under way in London, with Mo Farah getting the event off to a stunning start as he won his 10th consecutive global gold.

» Justin Gatlin won the world 100m title, beating Christian Coleman and Usain Bolt, while Tori Bowie claimed the women’s title.

» Wayde van Niekerk won the world 400m title but spared a thought for the missing Isaac Makwala, while young Norwegian Karsten Warholm stunned the world and himself with a clear-cut 400m hurdles victory.

» Australia’s Sally Pearson gained a golden global comeback with 100m hurdles victory, as Russia’s Maria Lasitskene retained the world high jump title.

» Mo Farah was forced to settle for silver behind Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris in the world 5000m final, while GB’s 4x100m women also secured silver behind USA.

» Britain’s 4x100m men stormed to victory as Usain Bolt bowed out injured (pictured below).

» GB’s 4x400m women secured silver and the men’s team bagged bronze.

» Mo Farah secured a thrilling 5000m win to end his track career in Zurich.

image: http://www.athleticsweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GB-4x100-London-2017-by-mark-Shearman-750x450.jpg

September

» Tributes were paid to distance running stalwart Gordon Surtees, who guided athletes including 1976 Olympic steeplechase finalist Dennis Coates, 1:44.65 800m runner Ikem Billy, 3:51.31 miler Tony Morrell, Great North Run winner Steve Kenyon and current international Jonathan Taylor.

» Joyciline Jepkosgei smashed the world 10km record in Prague.

» Mo Farah claimed a fourth consecutive victory at the Simplyhealth Great North Run, as Mary Keitany won a dominant third title.

» The International Olympic Committee officially confirmed Paris as host city of the 2024 Games, with Los Angeles set to perform the same role in 2028.

» Eliud Kipchoge showed again why he is the No.1 marathon man in the world right now as he won the BMW Berlin Marathon in 2:03:32 to beat a star-studded field.

October

» Hannah England was elected chair of UK Athletics Athletes’ Commission.

» Joyciline Jepkosgei broke the world half-marathon record in Valencia.

» Dewi Griffiths impressed with a 2:09:49 marathon debut in Frankfurt.

November

» Memories of former AW news editor Trevor Frecknall were shared after he died, aged 72.

» Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor claimed victory at the New York City Marathon.

» British Athletics announced its funding lists for 2017-18.

» Former GB international Colin McCourt smashed 16 minutes to win his running bet in style.

» Bobby Clay shared an honest and powerful article on her osteoporosis in the hope that her experience might act as a lesson for fellow young athletes.

December

» Mo Farah and Laura Muir were named among the AW Readers’ Choice Awards winners.

» Britain claimed five golds to come out on top at the European Cross Country Championships.

» Mo Farah won the BBC sports personality of the year award, while there was a lifetime achievement award for Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

» Birmingham was announced as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

» 17 Brits made the top 10 in their events according to the 2017 AW world merit rankings.

» World champion and Paralympic medallist Stef Reid, Scottish Athletics president Leslie Roy and Paralympian Craig Carscadden were each awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.

Read more at http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/aw-review-of-2017-72158#kclHTA82P7SGHesg.99