Rudisha and Vlasic were honoured in Monaco on Sunday

Kenya's 800m runner David Rudisha and world indoor high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia have been named IAAF Athletes of the Year.

Rudisha, 21, twice eclipsed the world 800m record in 2010, lowering it to one minute 41.01 seconds, in a sparkling season of 11 consecutive victories.

His award ends a run of four consecutive years in which sprinters have been named athletes of the year.

Vlasic, 27, won 18 of 20 competitions in what she called her toughest season.

United States sprinter Tyson Gay, American hurdler David Oliver, Eritrean distance runner Zersenay Tadese and Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen were the other male finalists at the annual World Athletics Gala dinner in Monaco.

606: DEBATE Did the right athlete win?

Vlasic succeeded American Sanya Richards as the top female athlete. Other finalists were Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, U.S. sprinter Allyson Felix, British heptathlete Jessica Ennis and Kenyan steeplechaser Milcah Chemos Cheywa.

Rudisha's run of 1:41.09 in Berlin in August ended Wilson Kipketer's 13-year reign as the world record holder. Seven days later the Kenya came close to eclipsing the 1:41 barrier in Rieti.

"Running under 1:40 is far away," said Rudisha on Friday.

"I think I was saying this year 1:40 might be possible and that is what I'm aiming for."

However, he now says it might not happen in 2011 but is a realistic target for the future.

"Next year we have the world championships (and) the Olympics the following year," he said.

"That might sort of hinder some forecast of a fast time. But I think myself 1:40 is possible."

Vlasic won often in 2010, including at the European Championships, but she said the victories were not easy.

"I struggled a lot with my feelings," she explained.

"Every time I won I won against my weaknesses, against my demons and against the other girls."

Vlasic plans to skip the upcoming indoor season to recharge herself for the outdoor circuit.

Stefka Kostadinova's 1987 world record of 2.09m is within reach, said Vlasic, who in 2009 came with a centimetre of the mark.

"The world record for me is like a pair of perfect shoes in the store when you are a little child and you want them so much," she added.

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