Richards and Powell were each given $100,000 to go with their awards

Sanya Richards, the former UT All American, and Asafa Powell have been named as the International Association of Athletics Federations' World Athletes of the Year for 2006.  

Powell claimed his first major 100-meter gold for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in March and remained unbeaten in all 16 finals he contested. The 23-year-old also twice equalled his own 100-meter world record of 9.77 seconds.

Richards, 21, was also unbeaten over 400m and clocked 48.70 seconds to break the 22-year-old American record. That time, set during the World Cup final in Athens, broke Valerie Brisco-Hooks' mark from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Richards, who is coached by Michael Johnson and former Baylor coach Clyde Hart, also moved to seventh on the all-time list.

I was able to break the American record and that has been my highlight because I knew I could do it Sanya Richards

"I was pleasantly surprised to win the award because I was up against two phenomenal athletes," said Richards. But I wouldn't say it was a complete surprise as I have worked really hard and my Dad kept telling me what I needed to do this season.

"I was able to break the American record and that has been my highlight because I knew I could do it."