A theoretical “Comeback Track Athlete of the Year” award seemed to have Wayde van Niekerk’s name written all over it heading into the 2019 season as the 400m world record holder mapped his return from a torn ACL in late 2017, but the South African has raced just once this year and his injury status remains unclear. Elsewhere, however, other athletes you may have forgotten about or deemed past their prime have returned with a vengeance this year.

Here are the five best comeback athletes so far in 2019:

Lopez Lomong

The 34-year-old Lomong built the shell of a comeback last year when he won the U.S. 10k title and ran a 3:53 mile. But not even that could foreshadow the monster 2019 season the two-time Olympian has enjoyed-- the veteran swept the 10k and 5k at USAs, qualifying for his first world team since 2013. With the hamstring injuries that have haunted him for the last several years now in the past, a rejuvenated Lomong is a sleeper medal contender in the Doha 10,000m. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

The two-time Olympic 100m champion has looked like her vintage self at the ripe age of 32. SAFP’s 10.73 back in June is her fastest 100m since 2013, while her 22.22 200m season’s best is also her best in the last six years. The Jamaican sprinter missed all of 2017 with the birth of her baby and slowly worked herself back in shape last season, none of which were predictors of her so far wildly successful 2019.

Amel Tuka

After a breakout 2015 season that saw him run 1:42.51 and take the world championship bronze in Beijing, Bosnian 800m runner Amel Tuka had three mediocre years from 2016 to 2018 where he failed to come within two seconds of his PB. But a 1:43.62 in Monaco, his second-fastest time ever, has the 28-year-old in the hunt for a podium spot in Doha.

English Gardner

Name a lower body injury and it’s likely that U.S. sprinter English Gardner has had it, as the 27-year-old has endured three knee surgeries, and most recently, a hamstring tear in February that could have jeopardized her entire 2019 season and maybe her career. After missing the world team in 2017 and racing just twice last year, Gardner's immediate future looked bleak when she went down with a grade two tear six months ago.

But with her positive outlook and physical determination, Gardner has continually fought back against her body, and a spot on the world championship 100m team is an excellent reward for her perseverance. Now healthy, the 10.74 performer is a medal threat despite not having broken 11 seconds since 2016. 

Faith Kipyegon

The reigning world and Olympic 1,500m champion has raced just once this season-- a 3:59.04 victory at Pre-- but that was proof enough that the Kenyan remains the woman to beat despite taking 2018 off to have a baby. Kipyegon has lost just one 1,500m since the start of 2017.