Brazilian Female Vaulter Still Leads Prensa Latina Sports Survey

Havana, Dec 1. -Brazilian vaulter Fabiana Murer on Thursday continued heading the Prensa Latina sports survey to select the best athletes from Latin America and the Caribbean in 2011.Murer, world champion in Daegu, on Thursday added a vote of the Uruguayan Monte Carlo radio station, while totaling five and separating from her closest pursuer, Colombian triple jumper Catherine Ibargüen (2).

The Monte Carlo gave its preference in the team selection to its national soccer team, champion of the Copa America, and the best individual sportsman to Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

The regional soccer champion also added the votes of the Venezuelan Canal I television network and Mexican Milenio newspaper, and dominates the poll with nine ballots.

The Canal I favored Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi as the best male athlete and Venezuelan cyclist Daniela Larreal among the women.

Meanwhile, the Milenio cast its votes for Brazilian swimmer Cesar Cielo Filho and Mexican racquetball player Paola Longoria.

Among the top-ten athletes of the year, the sports survey reported the scoring of points again by Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, Cuban vaulter Lazaro Borges and Dominican baseball player Albert Pujols, among others.

The deadline for voting will close on Thursday, December 22, for the media around the world, and the final results will be announced the next day. (Prensa Latina)