News & Notes, Volume 7, Number 76

Richards makes World Athlete of the Year Final List

After dominating the world's finest 400m competitors throughout this year's outdoor season, Sanya Richards has been named one of three finalists for the IAAF women's 2006 World Athlete of the Year Award.

Joining Richards as a finalist in the women's category are Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Sherone Simpson of Jamaica. The three finalists for the men's honor are Lithuania's Virgilijus Alekna, Jamaica's Asafa Powell and Liu Xiang of China.

The names of all finalists will be presented to a Special Jury of the International Athletic Foundation, who will select the Athletes of the Year and announce the winners, live on stage, November 12 at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco.

Richards had an amazing outdoor season that concluded with her owning the world's five -fastest women's 400m times this year. Richards is nominated for the prestigious 2006 Performance of the Year Award after setting the American women's 400m record on September 16 with her time of 48.70 seconds at the World Cup in Athens on September 16. The 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist, Richards' performance obliterated Valerie Brisco's previous American record of 48.83 set at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Her winning time put her #7 on the all-time performers list and ranks as the fastest in the world this year.

An equally dominant season was turned in by reigning Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner, who is a finalist for the men's Performance of the Year for running 43.62 seconds at the Rome Golden League meeting on July 14. Wariner's performance is the fastest 400m time since Michael Johnson's world record in 1999 and it makes him the fourth-fastest 400m performer ever. Wariner totally dominated his event this season in posting the five -fastest times in the world this year, which includes 10 of the top 12 fastest times globally.

The 2006 Performance of the Year Awards also will be announced at the 2006 World Athletics Gala in Monaco.

Team USA world junior record ratified

The IAAF announced on Wednesday that the world junior 4x100m record set by Team USA's women's squad this summer in Eugene, Ore., has been ratified.

Bianca Knight, Jeneba Tarmoh, Elizabeth Olear and Gabby Mayo combined to stop the clocks in 43.29 seconds on August 6 at The Road to Eugene '08 meet at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. Their performance bettered the previous world record of 43.38 seconds set July 11, 1999, in Tampa, Fla., by Alexis Joyce, Ashlee Williams, Amber Robinson and Amaris Buchanan.