23 October 2005 11:53:33 BST
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Paula Radcliffe and Jason Gardner have scooped the British Athletics Writers' Association Athlete of the Year award.
Radcliffe, who won the London and World Championship marathon in Helsinki this year, has now won the award five times, a record for one athlete, in seven years.
Sprinter Gardner, who was part of the 4x100m relay team that won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was helped to the award by his third successive indoor 60m European title, which he won back in March.
His third title win was a record for a British sprinter, surpassing Linford Christie's record of two, while it was the second successive year that Gardner has won the writers award, last year as part of the 4x100m relay team.
Meanwhile, Radcliffe announced yesterday that she would return to defend her London Marathon title next year.
"This is great news and a bonus for London to have Paula confirmed early," race director David Bedford said.
Radcliffe is the women's world record holder at the marathon and has won the London Marathon on three occasions.
