World champions Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix were Monday named
winners of the 2007 Jesse Owens Award given annually by USA Track
and Field to its top athletes of the year.
Gay, a first-time winner for the honor, swept the 100m and 200m
titles at the world championships while Felix, who also won the
award in 2005, won every 200m race she entered, including the world
final.
"Allyson and Tyson took the sprinting world by storm in 2007,"
USA Track and Field chief executive Craig Masback said. "Their
youth, humility and grace under tremendous pressure to perform make
them great champions."
In addition to sweeping the world sprint titles in Osaka, Gay
helped the US 4x100m relay to victory to become only the fourth man
to win three titles at a single world meet.
Gay, 25, win the 100 in 9.85 seconds, then captured the 200 in
19.76 and ran the third leg on a relay that was triumphant in 37.78
seconds.
"This is the greatest honor of my career," Gay said. "Jesse
Owens is a hero of mine for many reasons and to have my name linked
with his and with the great athletes who have been honored before
me, is humbling. I am very grateful."
Felix, 21, became only the second woman to win three world
titles at the same meet, first claiming the 200 in 21.81 seconds,
the best women's time in the event since 1999.
She ran the second leg on a 4x100m relay that won in 41.98 and
for a 4x400 relay that won in 3:18.55. Her 400m relay split was 48
seconds.
"It is a privilege to receive an award with such a rich
tradition," Felix said of the award. "To be recognized in the
company of such great champions is truly an honor."
(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)