San Juan PUR - Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have been selected the best Central American and Caribbean Athletes of the Year, following a superb season.

Their trainer, Stephen Francis, was also named the North America, Central America and Caribbean Track & Field Coaches Association (NACACTFCA) Coach of the Year.

Unbeaten in 16 finals, the 23-year old sprinter equalled his 100m world record twice (9.77) and became the first Jamaican to claim a share of the IAAF Golden League jackpot.

He also added the Commonwealth Games title and the World Athletics Final titles to his extensive pedigree, as well as improving his 200m personal best to a respectable 19.90.

Powell will be awarded with the CAC Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Sherone Simpson was also impressive in the sprints, posting the year’s fastest times at 100m (10.82) and 200m (22.00).

The 22-year old clocked seven of the 11 sub-11 second times and won the World Cup in Athens, as well as the World Athletics Final, both over 100m.

She also dominated four of the six Golden League meetings and anchored the Americas squad to the 4x100m relay win at the World Cup.

Powell and Simpson are the only Caribbean athletes nominated for the IAAF Athletes of the Year and Performance of the Year awards, to be presented at the IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco, on November 12.

For more details, please go to the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation (CACAC) website (www.athlecac.org).