Olympic champs Felix, Eaton honored

Allyson Felix and Ashton Eaton were named the winners of the 2012 Jesse Owens Award on Monday, given annually by USA Track and Field to the country's outstanding athletics performers. At the London Olympics, Felix won three gold medals, finally capturing a long-awaited individual gold in the 200m and also striking gold in the 4x400m relay and in the world-record setting 4x100m relay. Eaton's 2012 season started with a national title in the long jump at the US indoor championships. From there he went on to better his own world record in the heptathlon as he won the World Indoor Championships with 6,645 points. At the Olympic Trials, Eaton set a world record of 9,039 points in the rain-soaked decathlon competition in Eugene. He went on to win Olympic gold in London with a total of 8,869 points. "Ashton's world records and Allyson's three Olympic gold medals punctuated an outstanding season by all of our athletes," said USATF chief executive Max Siegel. "We are very proud to name them as the recipients of the Jesse Owens Award and look forward to celebrating their outstanding seasons at our Hall of Fame ceremony in Daytona Beach." Eaton and Felix will be presented with their awards on Saturday, December 1, at the Jesse Owens Hall of Fame Banquet.