Powell

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

MONTE CARLO:

JAMAICA'S WORLD 100 metres record holder, Asafa Powell, and American 400m runner Sanya Richards are the favourites to walk away with today's World Athletes of the Year awards for 2006.

Powell's 2006 season was his best to date by far. He ran a record 12-sub 10 seconds times, including equalling his own 100m world record of 9.77 twice - at Gateshead (June 11) and Zurich (August 18).

He also won the World Athletics Final and became the first sprinter to win all six races in the IAAF Golden League series.

He also won the Commonwealth Games 100m - his first major title.

He also had an impressive 19.90 seconds to win the national 200m crown.

Meanwhile, Richards, who broke the American 22-year-old 400m record of 48.83 by running 48.70, also won a share of the IAAF Golden League jackpot. She ended the year unbeaten and had the five fastest times over the one-lap event.

She also did well in the 200m, winning at the Gateshead ( 22.25) and finishing second in the World Athletics Final (22.17).

Another Jamaican, Sherone Simpson, who had six sub-11 seconds times this season with a personal best of 10.82 to win the national 100m title, is expected to strongly challenge Jamaica-born Richards.

Simpson will be trying to become the second Jamaican to win female athlete of the year, behind Merlene Ottey who won in 1990.

Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, who broke the women's 5000m world record by running 14:24.53 in New York, is the third female on the short list.

Simpson's 10.89 to win the World Athletics Final 100m is also shortlisted for the Performance of the Year.

American 400m star Jeremy Wariner and Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang are Powell's rivals for the coveted crown.