Monaco MON - Keeping in tune with the “new generation” theme that emerged at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, both Asafa Powell and Sanya Richards confirmed that their generation is the sport’s driving force after earning the World Athlete of the Year Awards.

Powell, still just 23, and Richards, who won’t celebrate her 22nd birthday until February, have each time and again illustrated their ability to perform with the poise and conviction of seasoned veterans as each captured a $250,000 piece of the Golden League Jackpot and produced virtually unblemished 2006 seasons. Not surprisingly, both were the Overall IAAF World Rankings number ones as well.

After 2005 injury, Powell returns unbeatable

“I wanted to win this last year,” said Powell, whose 2005 season was cut short by injury. “So this makes it even better this year. And it motivates even more for next year.”

Powell had already placed himself firmly among the world’s finest 100 metre sprinters in 2004, but that campaign is perhaps best remembered for his one notable setback – his fifth place finish at the Olympic Games in Athens. He returned the following year even stronger, lowering the World record to 9.77 on that same Athens track, but this time his season would be cut short by injury, preventing him from seeking the world title in Helsinki.

But 2006 would be one of near-perfection. Outside of a false start disqualification in his final race of the year in Yokohama, the Jamaican was unbeaten in 16 finals in a season that spanned from early March through late September. His domination began formally at the Commonwealth Games with his 100m title, and would later come to include victories at every major one-day meeting the world had to offer, more often than not in dominating fashion. A world record threat each time he stepped onto the track, Powell followed through not once, but twice as he equalled the 9.77 he set in 2005. The first came in Gateshead in early June, and the second was in Zurich when he helped produce a fitting good-bye to the old Letzigurnd Stadium. In the process In all, he run under 10 seconds a mind-boggling 12 times, lifting his career total sub-10 efforts to 25.

Richards unstoppable over 400m

Like Powell, the primary quest for Richards, the Jamaican-born American who’s been making waves since her high school days in Florida, was her chase for a slice of the Golden League Jackpot. And she too proved unstoppable, producing a series of thrilling performances that left the chasers just shaking their heads.

“This is more than just icing on the cake,” said a jubilant Richards, who unleashed a scream of joy when learning that her Athlete of the Year honour brought with it a check for $100,000.

The award was certainly well-deserved. Richards was unbeaten in 13 finals over the full lap, succeeded in her Jackpot chase, and capped her season with one of the most phenomenal performances of the season: her 48.70 U.S. record at the World Cup in Athens, finally breaking the 48.83 set by Valerie Brisco at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, before Richards was born. Her dash in Athens was the fastest in the world since the 1996 Olympic Games.

“I had the record for 22 years,” said Hooks, “and she’s only 21. So it’s alright.”

Underscoring her dominance, among her 13 wins over the full lap were the year's five fastest performances, but at the same time she matured as a strong international force in the 200 as well. She won four of her seven outings over the half lap, gradually getting faster as the season progressed. First came her surprise 22.25 personal best victory in Gateshead, another 22.17 career best with her runner-up finish at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, and her season-capping 22.23 victory at the World Cup to capture a unique double.

2006 competitions of the male and female World Athletes of the Year (finals only):

Asafa Powell –

100 m

10.29 1 Melbourne 9 Mar

10.03 1 Commonwealth Games 20 Mar

9.95 1 Kingston 6 May

9.93w 1 Eugene OR 28 May

9.98 1 Bislett Oslo 2 Jun

9.77 WR 1 Gateshead 11 Jun

9.85 1 Paris-Saint-Denis 8 Jul

9.85 1 Roma 14 Jul

9.86 1 Stockholm 25 Jul

9.91 1 London 28 Jul

9.77 WR 1 Zürich 18 Aug

9.99 1 Bruxelles 25 Aug

10.02 1 Warszawa 30 Aug

9.86 1 Berlin 3 Sep

9.89 1 Stuttgart 9 Sep

-DQ Super Yokohama 24 Sep

200 m

19.90 PB 1 Kingston 25 Jun

Sanya Richards -

200 m

22.62w 1 Arlington TX 1 Apr

22.42w 1 Carson CA 21 May

22.25 1 Gateshead 11 Jun

22.35 2 Stockholm 25 Jul

22.52 2 Birmingham 20 Aug

22.17 PB 2 Stuttgart 9 Sep

22.23 1 Athens 17 Sep

400 m

52.10i 1 Boston MA 28 Jan

51.76i 1 Boston MA 25 Feb

51.28i SB 1 Boston MA 26 Feb

52.25i 1 Moskva 10 Mar

52.46i 4 Moskva 11 Mar

50.44 1 Johnson Waco TX 22 Apr

49.89 1 Kingston 6 May

50.89 1 Eugene OR 28 May

49.82 1 Bislett Oslo 2 Jun

49.27 1 Indianapolis IN 24 Jun

49.73 1 Saint-Denis 8 Jul

49.31 1 Roma 14 Jul

49.05 1 London 28 Jul

50.18 1 Zürich 18 Aug

50.02 1 Bruxelles 25 Aug

49.81 1 Berlin 3 Sep

49.25 1 Stuttgart 10 Sep

48.70 AR 1 Athína 16 Sep