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Greene and Miller Win USATF's Top Awards

© Susan Wessling

By Susan Wessling

World champion sprinters Maurice Greene and Inger Miller won the United States Track and Field Association's top honor this year - the Jesse Owens Memorial Award.

The Owens Award, named for the hero of the 1936 Olympics, is presented to the year's outstanding male and female performers of USA track and field, long distance running and race walking. Greene and Miller were honored Thursday evening at the Jesse Owens Awards Banquet, part of the USATF's five-day annual meeting.

This is the first time Greene and Miller have won the award. The two runners are HSI teammates who are coached by sprint guru John Smith in California. In a conference call Wednesday, both runners said the team atmosphere had a big part in the success they achieved this year.

"It is unbelievable," Miller said about being on the HSI team. "I trained by myself for years and years. A lot of (my success this year) has to do with the environment. .... To train with the guys, that makes you stronger, and the group atmosphere gives you support and confidence."

Greene said all the runners who train under Smith are constantly competing. "That makes you stronger, mentally and physically," he said. "None of us like second place."

Greene made history this summer by becoming the first man to win the 100- and 200-meter events at the same World Championship. He defended his 100-meter crown at worlds by running 9.80 in the final. He was golden in the 200 meters with a season-best 19.90 in the final.

Greene also teamed with Jon Drummond, Tim Montgomery and Brian Lewis to take the gold medal in the men's 4 by 100-meter relay with a time of 37.59.

Earlier in the season, Greene broke the world record in the 100 meters by clocking 9.79 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. The old world mark (9.84) was held by Canada's Donovan Bailey.

Miller had a stellar year as well. She was golden at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain, where she won the 200 meters in 21.77. Miller took the silver medal in the 100 meters in 10.79, a personal best. In all, Miller ran three career bests at the World Championships in the 100 meters and one personal best in the 200 meters.

Miller was in the spotlight for most of the indoor season with wins at the Millrose Games (60m), L.A. Invitational (50m) and the D.C. Invitational (60m).