Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams and Czech Republic hurdler Zuzana Hejnova were named finalists for the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award on Tuesday.
Fraser-Pryce matched countryman Usain Bolt in winning three gold medals at the World Championships in Moscow this summer and is the favorite for the award. The winner will be revealed Nov. 16.
Adams and Hejnova also won World championships in their individual events.
Adams posted the six farthest throws in the world this year and won the Diamond League season title in the shot put.
Hejnova won seven of eight Diamond League races in the 400m hurdles and posted seven of the eight fastest times of the year.
American Brianna Rollins, the World champion in the 100m hurdles, was among 10 candidates announced last month but did not make the cut for the final three.
Allyson Felix won the award last year after winning three gold medals at the London Olympics.