Indianapolis -- Middle distance phenom Athing Mu, age 17, and 71-year old world record holder Jeannie Rice have been named the 2019 Youth and Masters Athletes of the Year, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Tuesday. Both athletes will be honored during the USATF Night of Legends event on Saturday, December 7 in Reno, Nevada. Other honorees will include the Jesse Owens, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Nike Coach of the Year, and Wing Award winners. In addition, USATF will induct the latest Hall of Fame class and honor current world record holders. 2019 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year Athing Mu (Trenton, New Jersey) kicked off her stellar season in January, running a high school-leading 53.54 in the 400m at the New York City Armory and then returned shortly thereafter to win the 200m stopping the clock at 24.11. She then turned to the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships not far from her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey to take on an elite professional field in the 600m. In the qualifying round, she broke the national high school indoor record in 1:26.23. In the final the following day, Mu sprinted to an American indoor best and the second-fastest indoor time in history with a 1:23.57 to take down Alysia Montano’s existing American best and win. She led the field from the gun, carrying them through 200m in 25.99 and 400m in 55.03 to set up a run at the record. Staving off 2018 USATF Outdoor 800m silver medalist Raevyn Rogers heading into the final bend, Mu closed in 28.55 and just missed the world best of 1:23.44. In early June, Mu ran 2:01.38 in the 800m at the Music City Distance Carnival as a high school junior, a time that ranks No. 6 all-time on the high school lists. She went on to add an 800m title to her resume with a convincing 2:05.59 at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships that qualified her for the U20 Pan American Games where she won gold in 2:05.50. Again challenging herself against the pros at the Toyota Outdoor champs Mu ran the eighth-fastest time in prep history to take fifth in 2:01.17. “Beginning just over a year ago running at the Youth Olympic Games, I knew this year would be one of my best,” said Mu. “I’m really thankful for everyone who’s been supportive of me through it all, including my family coaches, USATF staff and athletes as well. When competing, I never expect to earn honors, records, or even awards but being named Youth Athlete of the Year will be remembered as a huge stepping stone driving me to continue doing all I can for everything I want!” 2019 USATF Masters Athlete of the Year Jeannie Rice (Concord, Ohio), already the marathon world-record holder and American record holder in six events from the one mile to the marathon, turned to conquer the half-marathon in 2019 and did just that. Rice ran 1:37:07 at the Akron Half Marathon in August to set an age-group world record and now holds the three fastest times in the half marathon 70-74 division. Two weeks after the world-record setting performance, Rice lowered her own U.S. Masters women’s 70-74 road mile record by 12 seconds to 6:25 and had the highest age-graded score among all competitors at the USATF Masters Mile Championships with a 97.23%. “I am honored to be selected as the USATF Master Athlete of the year. I know there are many athletes throughout the country that are deserving of this award so being the individual chosen is a great honor. Thank you so much and I am very excited to receive this award!” Tickets to USATF Night of Legends can be purchased onsite at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Fans unable to attend can follow along via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Portions of the event will also be available later on USATF.tv+.