INDIANAPOLIS -- Sprinters Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix were named the winners of the Jesse Owens Award as the outstanding U.S. track and field athletes of 2007.

The award has been presented annually by USA Track & Field since 1988.

It's the first time Gay has been given the honor and the second time for the 21-year-old Felix.

Gay won the 100 and 200 meters at the world championships in Osaka, Japan, and was part of the victorious 400-meter relay team there. That made him the fourth man in the meet's history to win three gold medals at a single championship.

Felix became the second woman in world championships history to win three golds. Her victory in the 200 in 21.81 seconds was the fastest time in that event by a woman since 1999. She had the largest victory margin in world championships history.

Felix also was part of the winning 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

The pair will be honored at USA Track & Field's annual meeting Dec. 1 in Honolulu.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press