( L - R ) Powell and Simpson - Reuters photos

JAMAICAN SPRINTERS Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are on the shortlist for the IAAF's World Athlete of the Year awards.

Another Jamaican-born athlete, Sanya Richards, who now represents United States, is also listed among the final three women.

Powell, who twice equalled his world record of 9.77 seconds in the 100 metres this year, along with Simpson, who had the fastest 100m and 200m times this season, were on the final men's and women's lists announced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) yesterday.

Apart from winning the Common-wealth Games 100m and the World Athletics Final, Powell raced to a record 12 sub-10 seconds - 9.77 (twice), 9.85 (twice), 9.86 (twice), 9.89, 9.91, 9.95, 9.96, 9.98 and 9.99 this season while Simpson, apart from losing three times, dominated the sprints with six sub-11 seconds times.

Simpson also won the Common-wealth Games 200m and the World Athletics Final and World Cup, the last two over 100m.

Both Jamaicans depart the island tomorrow for the gala ceremony in Monaco.

Other athletes shortlisted for the top awards are Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and Lithuanian discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna on the men's side, while Ethiopian distance runner Meseret Defar joins Simpson and Richards.

The six athletes will be judged by a special jury and the two winners will be announced on Sunday at the World Athletics Gala.