Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell and American 400-metre runner Sanya Richards are on the shortlist for the IAAF's world athlete of the year awards.
Powell, who has twice equalled his world record of 9.77 seconds in the 100 metres this year, was on the men's list announced Wednesday by the International Association of Athletics Federations along with Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang of China and Lithuanian discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna.
Joining Richards among the women's finalists are Jamaican sprinter Sherone Simpson and Ethiopian distance runner Meseret Defar.
The six athletes will be judged by a special jury and the two winners will be announced Sunday at the World Athletics Gala.
Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia won the last two years, but both failed to make the shortlist this year.
