The men's 110-meter hurdles world record holder, Chinese ace Liu Xiang, has finished in second place in an internet poll for the 2006 World Male Athlete of the Year, announced the IAAF official website on Monday.

 

The internet vote, which got underway on October 11, closed on Monday when Olympic champion discus thrower, Virgilijus Alekna, from Lithuania earned number one spot with sprinter Asafa Powell of Jamaica in third.  

 

A special jury of the International Athletic Foundation will make the final choice on the Athlete of the Year from the three nominations and announce the winner at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco on Sunday.

 

According to the official website the Internet vote will count for 30 percent of the final result.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2006)