The nominees for Female World Athlete of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards have been announced.

The shortlist was chosen by an international panel of experts with representation from all six continental areas of the IAAF. They were chosen as a reflection of the outstanding performances in athletics this year including those at the World Athletics Championships, the Diamond League, and road and cross country events.

Continuing their dominance in the sport, the Kenyans are leading the pack with three athletes up for the prize. The field is very open, however, with gold medals, world records, and world titles a plenty.

The nominees (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) - Won seven of her eight steeplechases this year including setting a championship record of 8:57.84 to win the world 3000m title and was also victorious in the Diamond League.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) - The new mother flew to victory in the Doha in the 100m final and the 4x100m. She won seven of her ten 100m races in 2019 as well as the Pan-American 200m title.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) - The Brit finishes the year undefeated in all combined events both in and outdoors. She stormed to the world heptathlon title with a world leading British record 6981 and claimed the European indoor pentathlon title with another world-leading score of 4983.

Sifan Hassan (NED) - Broke the world mile record in Monaco with 4:12.33 as well as claiming victory in the Diamond League 1500m and 500m and running world leading times in both the 1500m (3:51.95) and 10,000m (30:17.62) to claim the world titles.

Brigid Kosgei (KEN) - Broke the world record for the marathon finishing in 2:14.04 at the Chicago Marathon as well as claiming victory in the London Marathon and running a world-leading 1:05.28 in the Great North Run.

Mariya Lasitskene (ANA) - Won 21 of her 23 competitions in 2019 including the world title in Doha and a world-leading 2.06 in Ostrava.

Malaika Mihambo (GER) - Was undefeated outdoors in 2019 including victory in the Diamond League and claiming gold in Doha with a world-leading long jump of 7.30m.

Dalilah Muhammad (USA) - Set a world record 400m (52.20) at the US Championships and broke this on her way to winning the world 400m hurdles in 52.16 as well as being part of the US 4x400m relay team that won the title in Doha.

Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) - Finishes the year undefeated outdoors in the 400m. She also won the world 400m title in the third-fastest time in history (48.14) and claimed victory in the Diamond League as well as three gold medals at the Asian Championships.

Hellen Obiri (KEN) - Excelled on the track and in cross-country in 2019 winning the world cross-country title in Aarhus as well as defending her 5000m title in Doha with a championship record of 14:26.72 and ran a world-leading 14:20.36 for 5000m in London earlier in the year.

Yulimar Rojas (VEN) - won nine of her 12 competitions this year, including the Pan-American Games and the world championships (15.37m.) Jumped 15.41m to move to second on the world all-time list earlier this year.

The finalists will be determined by a three-way voting process. Firstly the IAAF Council and Family cast their cotes by email while fans are able to vote via the IAAF social media platforms. The Council's vote will count for 50% while the Family's votes and public votes will each count for 25%.

Voting closes on November 5 when five finalists will be announced by the IAAF ahead of the winner being crowned live on stage at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 23.