Merritt Named Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Aries Merritt (Knoxville, Tenn.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after he ran a world leading time of 13.36 in the 110m hurdles at the Razorback Spring Invitational at the University of Arkansas on Saturday.

Merritt raced against a field of top collegians and finished more than a second faster than his nearest competitor to bring home the win, setting a meet record in the process.

“The race felt pretty easy,” Merritt said. “It was good to shake off the rust and get ready for the rest of my outdoor season.”

Merritt suffered a stress fracture in his ankle during the 2010 season, but with three world leading marks set in 2011 to-date, he has firmly reestablished his place as one of the world’s top hurdlers.

“It gave me confidence, because even though I was injured last year, I was able to see that I didn’t lose much speed,” Merritt said. “I think I can run well. God willing, I’ll be injury free.”

Now in its tenth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 5, Bill Tribou; January 12, Tyler Sorensen; January 20, Josh Cox; January 26,Ben Shorey; February 2, Ashton Eaton; February 9, Ashton Eaton; February 16, Bernard Lagat; February 23, Ryan Crouser; March 2, Jillian Camarena-Williams; March 10, Bill Collins; March 16, Miles Batty; March 23, Shalane Flanagan; March 30, John Nunn; April 6, Aries Merritt

Oliver named USATF Athlete of the Week

David Oliver sizzling performance stands out.

INDIANAPOLIS- David Oliver has been named the USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week after he equaled the American Record in the men’s 110m hurdles at the 2010 Nike Prefontaine Classic at historic Hayward Field on campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.

Oliver, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 110m hurdles, tied the American record of 12.90 set by Dominique Arnold on July 11, 2006 in Lausanne. That time is the third-fastest time ever in the event.

One week before the Prefontaine Classic, Oliver won his second national title in the same event at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Oliver’s winning time of 12.93 is the fastest winning time at the championships since Allen Johnson won in 12.92 in 1996.

Oliver is the 2010 World Indoor Championships bronze medalist and USA Indoor championships runner- up in the 60m hurdles.

Now in its ninth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Winners: January 13, Jen Clayton; January 20, Shalane Flanagan; January 27, Nolan Shaheed; February 3, Bernard Lagat; February 10, Bernard Lagat; February 17, Shalane Flanagan; February 24, Amber Campbell; March 3, Amber Campbell; March 10, Phil Raschker; March 17, Ashton Eaton; March 31, Lisa Koll; April 7, Queen Harrison; April 14, Magdalena Lewy Boulet; April 21, Bershawn Jackson; April 28, Phoebe Wright; May 5, Chris Solinsky; May 12, Walter Dix; May 26, Cory Martin; June 2, Chaunte Lowe; June 9, Bernard Lagat; June 16, Queen Harrison; June 30, Kara Patterson; July 7, David Oliver.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING JULY 4

MEN

100 - 10.19 Mike Rodgers (Nike) - Reims, FRA 6/30
200 - 19.72 Walter Dix (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
400 - 46.08 Jeremy Davis (unat) - Sollentuna, SWE 7/1
800 - 1:45.53er Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3
Mile - 3:51.74 Andrew Wheating (unat) - Eugene, OR 7/3
5000 - 13:08.11 Chris Solinsky (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3
110H - 12.90 David Oliver (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 =AMERICAN RECORD
400H - 49.04 Justin Gaymon (Nike) - Uden, HOL 7/3
HJ - 2.27/7-5.25 Dusty Jonas (Nike) - Cork, IRE 7/3
PV - 5.55/18-2.5 Jeremy Scott (Nike) - Patra, GRE 6/30
LJ - 8.41/27-7.25 Dwight Phillips (Trackstar Apparel) - Eugene, OR 7/3
SP - 22.41/73-6.25 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 World leader
DT - 66.95/219-8 Jason Young (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3

WOMEN

100 - 10.83 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
200 - 22.92 Ebonie Floyd-Broadnax (Nike) - Sollentuna, SWE 7/1
400 - 50.27 Allyson Felix (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3
800 - 1:58.22 Phoebe Wright (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
1500 - 4:13.32 Erin Donohue (Nike) - Cork, IRE 7/3
3000SC - 9:32.35 Bridget Franek (unat) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
5000 - 14:49.08 Shalane Flanagan (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
100H - 13.26 Nichole Denby (Speed Dynamics) - Patra, GRE 6/30
400H - 53.03 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3
HJ - 2.00/6-6.75 Chaunte Lowe (Nike) - Madrid, ESP 7/2
PV - 4.48/14-8.25 Lacy Janson (unat) - Eugene, OR 7/3
LJ - 6.60/21-8 Funmi Jimoh (Nike) - Reims, FRA 6/30
TJ - 14.33/47-0.25 Erica McLain (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3 U.S. leader
DT - 55.47/182-0 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Madrid, ESP 7/2
HT - 70.21/230-4 Amber Campbell (Nike) - Eugene, OR 7/3
JT - 65.90/216-2 Kara Patterson (Asics) - Eugene, OR 7/3

Shanghai Diamond League 2010 Men 110mH

23rd May 2010, Diamond League Shanghai: David Oliver runs sub 13 in the 110m hurdles with a headwind to claim Shanghai victory.

Day 2 NCAA Champs, Jason Richardson - South Carolina

Day 2 NCAA Champs, Jason Richardson - South Carolina from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

Jason Richardson talks with PreRaceJitters.com after running 13.4a in the preliminary heat of the 110m hurdles.

Day 2 NCAA Champs, Ronnie Ash - Bethune Cookman

Day 2 NCAA Champs, Ronnie Ash - Bethune Cookman from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

After running 13.47 to win his heat, Ronnie Ash talks with PreRaceJitters.com