By ANYA WHITELAW

IN the 12 months that made up the year that was 2009, no wheelchair racer in the world could better Carcoar's Kurt Fearnley over 42.2 kilometres, but when he attends tonight's prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards the competition he faces will be of the highest calibre.

For the second time in four years Fearnley is in the running for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award, the winner of which will be announced at a ceremony at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi tonight.

The annual awards, now in their 10th year, recognise sporting achievement across all disciplines and have a reputation for being the premier honours on the international sporting calendar.

Tonight's awards are being based on the efforts of nominated athletes in a period stretching from January 1 to December 31 last year ? a time in which Fearnley achieved results to make him the envy of his rivals.

His program began with a fifth consecutive victory in Sydney's annual January 26 Oz Day 10km, the CSU graduate clocking a time of 21 minutes, 48 seconds.

"Being the first race of the year, I always want to make sure it's a winning start and it seems like a good omen," Fearnley said at the time.

Good omen it certainly was.

After contesting some shorter races in Dubai, Fearnley embarked on a gruelling six-week schedule which involved three marathons in three different countries. He won them all.

Firstly he found success in Paris then posted what was arguably his sweetest victory of the year when he produced his first ever London Marathon win and did so in a course record time of one hour, 28 minutes and 56 seconds.

Then it was on to Seoul where he made it a hat-trick for the month before the Paralympic gold medallist gave himself a much deserved break.

In September he was back and racing, this time smashing his own record in the Sydney Marathon by almost five minutes when he stopped the clock after 1:36.43.