Gatlin won the most competitive 100m hurdles in Olympic history in Athens, the 22-year-old timing 9.85sec to take gold from Portugal's Francis Obikwelu and Maurice Greene.

He added bronze in the 200m and silver in the 4x100m relay.

"It is such a great honour," Gatlin said ahead of Wednesday's award presentation here at US Track and Field's annual meeting.

Hayes owes her award for the gold medal she won in the women's 100m hurdles when she timed 12.37sec to break the 16-year-old Olympic record of 12.38.

The 27-year-old was only the second American to win the event.

The awards, first established in 1981, were selected in balloting of members of the US track and field media.