( CNN ) -- London Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis can crown a superb year by being named World Female Athlete of the Year for 2012 . Ennis , the poster girl of the London Games , swept to victory in the grueling seven event discipline on the middle Saturday as hosts Britain enjoyed a gold rush . Her efforts and an earlier fine performance at the multi-events meeting in Gotzis , have seen the 26-year-old shortlisted for the top award by the IAAF . The world governing body has also nominated American sprinter Allyson Felix , who completed a superb 200m and 4x400m relay golden double in London . Shot putter Valerie Adams of New Zealand is the third athlete on the shortlist . 2008 Olympic champion Adams was awarded a second successive gold after Nadzeya Ostapchuk of the Belarus was stripped of the title following a failed drugs test . The men 's shortlist , announced Monday , also has a star-studded parade of Olympic champions , led by Jamaica 's Usain Bolt , who won three golds in London in the sprint events . He is joined by American hurdler Aries Merritt , the Olympic champion , who also smashed the world record during 2012 . David Rudisha of Kenya , who set a new world record for the 800m on his way to London gold , completed the trio . The winners of both categories will be announced at the centenary gala dinner of the IAAF in Barcelona on November 24 . The shortlists were decided by a votes cast by a panel of 2,400 people , including officials , coaches and the media .
Jessica Ennis on short list for IAAF Female Athlete of the Year . Britain totaled three points on way to winning heptathlon gold in London . Aries Merritt and Valerie Adams also selected . Usain Bolt , Allyson Felix and Aries Merritt to contest men 's honor .