Liu, who came to spotlight this year by breaking the world record with a storming 12.88 seconds in Lausanne, Switzerland, has taken up 56.18% of the total votes cast via internet, said the IAAF on its official website.

    The 23-year-old Chinese is followed by sprinter Asafa Powell of Jamaica and 400-meter Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner of America, with respective 19.72% and 7.13%.

    The ten-man shortlist, which was revealed on Wednesday by the IAAF, also included the likes of long distance runner Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and American sprinter Tyson Gay.

    The top three out of the ten athletes will be presented to a special jury of the International Athletic Foundation, who will then make a final selection of Athlete of the Year and announce the winner at the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Gala in Monaco on November 12. Enditem