News20 Nov 2007


Felix and Gay win 2007 Jesse Owens Award

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Allyson Felix runs the second leg for the US in the women's 4x400m (© Getty Images)

Allyson Felix and Tyson Gay have been named the winners of the 2007 Jesse Owens Award by USA Track & Field.

Felix, who retained her World 200m title in Osaka this season becomes a two-time Jesse Owens Award winner, having first received the honour in 2005 the year she first won global gold. In total, Felix brought home three gold medals from the World Championships in Athletics in Japan – 200m, 4x100 and 4x400m.

Gay, also a triple Osaka gold medallist – 100, 200m, 4x100m relay - receives the Jesse Owens Award for the first time in his career.

Established in 1981, the Jesse Owens Award is USA Track & Field's highest accolade, presented annually to the outstanding U.S. male and female track and field performers. This year's awards will be presented on 1 December at the Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, in conjunction with USA Track & Field's 2007 Annual Meeting.

Felix, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on 18 November, defended her World 200m crown on 31 August in 21.81 seconds. It was the fastest time in the world since 1999 and the widest margin (0.53) of victory at a global championships since the 1948 Olympics. Her 48 seconds 400m relay leg on 2 September which moved the USA 4x400m relay team up from fourth into a winning lead on leg two was also one of the quickest relay splits since the 1980s.

"It is a privilege to receive an award with such a rich tradition," Felix said. "To be recognised in the company of such great champions is truly an honour."

As well as his Osaka victories, Gay, 25, completed the fastest ever 100m/200m sprint double when winning the 2007 US Trials. He won seven out of his eight 100m races and all four of his 200m races this season, running four times sub-10 seconds with another two windy runs in that category too including 9.76(2.2m/s) in New York on 2 June. He ran under 20 seconds on four occasions in 2007 including his 19.62 PB at the USA Trials and a 19.76 championship record in Osaka.

“This is the greatest honour of my career," said Gay. "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."

Gay is a contender for 2007 World Athlete of the Year, an award which will be announced in Monaco on 25 November - Click here for story

"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."

The 2007 Jesse Owens Award winners were selected in balloting of members of the U.S. track and field media. Other finalists for the men's Jesse Owens Award were Breaux Greer, Reese Hoffa, Bernard Lagat, Brad Walker, Jeremy Wariner and Alan Webb. Women's finalists were Shalane Flanagan, Michelle Perry, Sanya Richards, Jenn Stuczynski and Tiffany Williams.

The permanent commemorative Jesse Owens Award is maintained at USATF National Headquarters, and a replica is provided to each of the winners. Previous winners are Edwin Moses (1981), Carl Lewis (1982 and 1991), Mary Decker (1983), Joan Benoit (1984), Willie Banks (1985), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986 and 1987), Florence Griffith Joyner (1988), Roger Kingdom (1989), Lynn Jennings (1990), Kevin Young (1992), Gail Devers (1993, 1996), Michael Johnson (1994, 1995, 1996), Allen Johnson (1997), Marion Jones (1997, 1998), John Godina (1998, 2001), Inger Miller (1999), Maurice Greene (1999), Stacy Dragila (2000 and 2001), Angelo Taylor (2000), Khalid Khannouchi (2002), Deena Kastor (2003), Tom Pappas (2003), Justin Gatlin (2004 and 2005) and Joanna Hayes (2004), Allyson Felix (2005 and 2007) Sanya Richards (2006) and Jeremy Wariner (2006).

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