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Nov. 29--Sanya Richards' "dream season" came full circle Tuesday when she was named winner of USA Track and Field's 2006 Jesse Owens Award as the most outstanding U.S. female track and field athlete.
Richards' training mate Jeremy Wariner was named top male track athlete and their coach, Clyde Hart, was named Coach of the Year. They will be presented the awards Saturday night at the Hall of Fame inductions and USATF's annual meeting in Indianapolis.
At 21, the St. Thomas Aquinas alum now based in Austin, Texas, had one of the greatest seasons ever by an American quarter-miler. She won a $249,999 portion of the jackpot for sweeping the Golden League series and took the USA Indoor, USA Outdoor, World Athletics Final and World Cup titles.
Richards was undefeated in the 400 meters, broke Valerie Brisco's 22-year-old American record in her specialty event and finished with a 15-race win streak.
"Sanya and Jeremy displayed a dominance in their events rarely seen in track and field," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "They had historic seasons that will be difficult for them to top, but part of what makes them special is that you can be certain they are busy planning how to accomplish even more in 2007 and 2008."
"It was a dream-come-true year for me," Richards said. "My first time being undefeated in the 400 and then ending with the record ... it was just an overwhelming year. I am very blessed."
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Copyright (c) 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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