MONACO -- World champion Ashton Eaton can add another accolade to his growing pile, as the Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year Thursday. In addition, the IAAF also honored two-time IAAF World Youth Championships gold medalist Candace Hill with their Rising Star Award.

Eaton (Bend, Oregon) improved his world record in the decathlon to win the gold medal at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, scoring 9,045 points to top the field by more than 300 points. In the process, he set a World Championships decathlon record of 10.23 seconds in the 100 meters, and broke a 40-year-old world decathlon record with a time of 45.00 in the 400m.

Eaton, who is also a finalist for the USOC’s Olympic Male Athlete of the Year, was named to the IAAF Athletes’ Commission today as well. He was up for IAAF World Athlete of the Year against compatriot Christian Taylor and three-time 2015 Beijing gold medalist Usain Bolt.

"While I’m honored that I am considered the ‘artist’ of the year, I did not beat Usain and Christian; my work simply differed in design. They are some of the most talented and beautiful performers of all time. I’m flattered to be among them.”

Hill (Stockbridge, Georgia) became the first American to win the IAAF World Youth Championships 100m/200m sprint double, breaking the meet record in both events while also setting a new World Youth record in the 200m in 22.43. Her 10.98 at the Brooks PR Invitational was also a World Youth record as she became the first prep female in history to break 11 seconds. Hill is the 2015 Gatorade National Girls Athlete of the Year and has won 92 consecutive races through the 2015 season.

The duo are connected in another way, as Eaton picked Hill for his “On Camp with Ashton Eaton,” noting that her “simply raw talent and youthful zeal” was something that senior athletes should experience more.

To read more from the IAAF, including the full list of annual award winners, please visit IAAF.org.