A&M's Shamier Little third in voting for U.S. Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ca. – World silver medalist Shamier Little finished third in voting for the women's U.S. Athlete of the Year in Track & Field News magazine. Little, who is now in her junior season with Texas A&M, was the only collegian listed among the 16 female athletes earning a vote in the annual poll.
 
Among 32 ballots, Little received 19 votes for third place and eight for fourth place in reaching a total of 232 points for 72.5 percent of the overall vote.
 
Little's impressive sophomore campaign with the Aggies included winning the 400 hurdles in the SEC Championships, claiming her second NCAA title to complete an undefeated collegiate season, winning Pan-Am Games gold in Toronto and producing a silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.
 
A career best of 53.74 seconds in defending her NCAA Championship served as the world leading time during the summer, up to the final of the World Championships.
 
The Czech Republic's Zuzana Hejnova, who ranked No. 10 in T&FN's women's World Athlete of the Year voting, defended her World title in 53.50 to claim the top mark of the year with Little sporting the second fastest time of the season and the best performance by an American in 2015.
 
Little recorded the second, fourth and fifth fastest performances on the year with times of 53.74 (NCAA final), 53.83 (USATF final), and 53.94 (World Champs final).
 
In the annual world rankings by event compiled by Track & Field News, Little ranked second in the 400 hurdles, behind Hejnova, and led the U.S. rankings for the event. Three American hurdlers were ranked in the world top 10 for the 400 hurdles as Cassandra Tate, the bronze medalist at the World Championships, and Georganne Moline were fifth and sixth amid the rankings in joining Little.
 
Allyson Felix, who ranked No. 7 in the World Athlete of the Year voting, was a near unanimous selection for the US Athlete of the Year as she secured 31 votes for first place with one ballot for second. It's the fifth US Athlete of the Year honor for Felix, who also earned the title in 2005, '07, '10, and '12. Tianna Bartoletta was runner-up with 29 votes for second as well as one ballot each for first and third place.
 
The remainder of the top 10 following Little included Michelle Carter, Torie Bowie, Dawn Harper Nelson, Sharika Nelvis, Shannon Rowbury, Molly Huddle and Jenn Suhr.
 
Track & Field News – 69^th Annual Rankings
Aggies listed in the World, U.S. rankings
 
World event rankings
Women
Shamier Little               2^nd      400 Hurdles
Jeneba Tarmoh           5^th      200 meters
 
U.S. event rankings
Women
Shamier Little               1^st      400 Hurdles
Shelbi Vaughan           3^rd      Discus
Jeneba Tarmoh           3^rd      200 meters
Jeneba Tarmoh           4^th      100 meters
Ariana Ince                   5^th      Javelin (A&M volunteer coach)
Jessica Beard                6^th      400 meters
Jena Hemann               9^th      Heptathlon
Kamaria Brown            10^th    200 meters
 
Men
Sam Humphreys          7^th      Javelin
Ameer Webb               7^th      200 meters