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World champions Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix were named winners of the 2007 Jesse Owens Award, the annual honor naming the athletes of the year by USA Track & Field.
Gay, 25, won three gold medals at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, sweeping the 100 and 200m and running the third leg on the victorious 4x100m relay. In the 100, Gay clocked 9.85, relegating world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica to third. In the 200, he clocked 19.76, taking down Michael Johnson’s meet record.
"This is the greatest honor of my career," said Gay, who became just the fourth athlete to win three gold medals at a single World Championships. "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, dominated the 200m this season and also left Osaka with three gold medals. She defended her 200m title with a blazing 21.81 career best, the fastest by a woman since 1999. Her jaw-dropping display in Osaka produced the largest winning margin, a massive 0.53 seconds, in World Championships history. She also ran the second legs on the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. In the latter, she ran a 48.0 split, the fastest by a woman in two decades.
"It is a privilege to receive an award with such a rich tradition," said Felix, who also won the award in 2005. "To be recognized in the company of such great champions is truly an honor." Felix also displayed considerable depth in 2007, improving her personal bests in the 100 and 400m to 11.01 and 49.70.
"Allyson and Tyson took the sprinting world by storm in 2007," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "Their youth, humility and grace under tremendous pressure to perform make them great champions who have earned respect from their competitors, the public and the press. We congratulate both of them on their fine seasons."
Gay is also a finalist for this weekend’s IAAF World Athlete of the Year honors. The winners will be announced on Sunday night at the World Athletics Gala in Monaco.
[NOTE: TPR will provide on-site coverage from Monaco throughout the weekend.]
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