Jesse Owens Award: Bernard Lagat or Tyson Gay

Good idea. I like them both. Would you be allowed to vote for them as a tie so they could share the award? I think they would both enjoy that.

6/10

This is going to start another debate over Lagat being an American.

With that said, I vote for Lagat.

Don't you have to be American to win the award? Guess that leaves Tyson. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) For what it's worth, Tyson definitely had the better season overall. As a non-sprinter, I still gotta give it up to Tyson on this one.

I dont think it matters that much, but Gay didnt actually go undefeated this year, he just lost last week.

With that said, I dont think Lagat dominated quite in the same way as Gay. He ran so many fast times this year, and overall was more dominant this year. Lagat didnt even win the 1500 as US.

How do we know Lagat is still a US citizen? He'd never tell.

does that really matter? he won worlds...the US 1500 obviously wasnt his goal.

Schwabie wrote:

I dont think it matters that much, but Gay didnt actually go undefeated this year, he just lost last week.

With that said, I dont think Lagat dominated quite in the same way as Gay. He ran so many fast times this year, and overall was more dominant this year. Lagat didnt even win the 1500 as US.

Wejo, after all these years, I don't even know why you would ask such an obvious question. Sprinters have taken the spotlight since we were all young bucks, give us a voice, Wejo, and vote for Lagat!

I have almost no interest in sprinting and almost no respect for the accomplishments of sprinters. Still, if I had the vote to cast, I believe that I would have the duty to vote for Gay as the outstanding American track and field performer of the year. As much as it would pain me to vote for a mere sprinter, I really don't think it's a close question.

Tyson Gay

I love Bernard but he loses points for enabling Seneca.

I think it has to be Gay. Both had excellent success throughout the year, but Gay competed at a level closer to the world record standard of excellence. I like Lagat alot, but I think his wins at WC were average performances at best. Gay's performances were superior by comparison. Good luck on your decision.

This is a tough one. Part of me wants to vote for Tyson...His season was remarkable, but expected of an American...We dominate the sprints and have always had a strong hand in them....

Lagat presents a new challenge...He won double gold, in events we have struggled until recently in....Had Lagat not won, or medaled...Would we be talking about Tegenkamp as the new Pre? The new "it" guy in American distance running? He almost gave the USA two medals in an event we've rarely had any...

In conclusion how about a vote for Reese Hoffa for his overall domination.

I feel like there are several factors that swing it in different directions. First of all, Gay clearly had a better season in the sense that he dominated the competition all year long, while Lagat basically had a very very good meet, though it was obviously the most important one. On the other hand, Lagat did everything right all season to put himself into position for that meet, so I find it hard to fault him for his earlier weaker performances.

If you approach it from just the perspective of the world champs, I think Lagat's is actually quite a bit better (opinion). All those firsts for an American, plus a double that is a lot more difficult and thus has only been pulled off twice in history. Gay's times, of course, are unbelievable, but I give the nod to Lagat here.

I think overall I would give Lagat the advantage based on the novelty of his accomplishment as an American. Gay is just another dominant American sprinter (and an amazing one at that) but Lagat's performance at the World Champs in more unique.

Bernard Lagat peaked at the right time which all of us as runners know that is the most important thing. If you go by worlds you have to say that they were at a tie because they won the races they were in. With that being said Gay has dominated the whole season (with the exception of a couple days ago) and Lagat simply peaked at the right time and came out of nowhere!(this season) With all of the respect in the world for Lagat and being very happy for the U.S. for having a gold medalist in a distance event again, finally! So my vote would be for-------Tyson Gay!

For me its Lagat. Gay was dominant but what he did has been done before. Lagat did things this year that no American has ever done, and some that no one has ever done. I give Lagat the nod.

gay has had the greates 100m/200m season ever. Lagat's performance at Worlds was great, but this is a non-contest.

look there is a huge distance bias in T&F and this is barely even a legitimate question..... Tyson Gay was way superior in 2007.

I've met Bernard a bunch of times and like the guy a lot but this one is not even close. The choice is Tyson Gay. His overall 2007 record is vastly superior.

haile deserve it

Lagat all the way!!!!!!!