South African high jumper Hestrie Cloete and Morocco's four-time world 1,500 metres champion Hicham El Guerrouj were named the Athletes of the Year after this weekend's World Athletics Final in Monaco.
Cloete, who won the high jump with a jump of 2.01 metres yesterday, is the first African woman to be named Athlete of the Year.
El Guerrouj did not even compete in this weekend's finals, complaining of tiredness, but he had amassed enough points over the season to receive the men's award for the third consecutive year.
Filed by Neil Callanan
