Gay named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS- Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for his impressive win over Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt (JAM) at the DN Galan - Samsung Diamond League meeting Friday.

The rivalry between the world’s fastest sprinters was finally tested for the first time since the 2009 World Championships, where World Record-holder Bolt claimed the top spot. One year later, in Stockholm, Gay took full advantage of his long-awaited opportunity to settle the score, entering the finals with the fastest seed and never relinquishing that position. Gay took the lead immediately from the blocks and held on for the win in a meet record time of 9.84 seconds over Bolt’s 9.97.

Also in Stockholm, Chris Solinsky, the American Record holder in the 10,000m, finished fifth in the 5,000m in 12:55.53. That is the second-fastest time ever by an American, trailing only Bernard Lagat’s American record run of 12:54.12 from earlier this year.

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; July 22, David Oliver; July 28, Conor McCullough; August 4, Kennedy Blahnik; August 11, Tyson Gay.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 8

MEN

100 - 9.84 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6   U.S. leader
200 - 20.18 Wallace Spearmon (Saucony) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400 - 45.40 LeJerald Betters (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
800 - 1:45.32 Nick Symmonds (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000 - 7:54.61 David Torrence (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
5000 - 12:55.53 Chris Solinsky (Nike/OTC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
110H - 13.51 Joel Brown (unat) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
400H - 47.65 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
HJ - 2.21/7-3.25 James Harris (Alabama HS) - Norfolk, VA 8/4
LJ - 7.87/25-10 Trevell Quinley (Nike) - Rakvere, FIN 8/3
SP - 22.09/72-5.75 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
Dec - 8090 Joe Detmer (unat) - Marburg, GER 8/8

WOMEN

100 - 10.99 Marshevet Myers (adidas) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
200 - 22.41 Allyson Felix (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400 - 50.59 Debbie Dunn (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
800 - 1:58.67 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
1500 - 4:02.72 Morgan Uceny (Reebok) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
3000SC - 9:37.98 Lisa Aguilera (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
5000 - 15:50.55 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
100H - 12.70 Queen Harrison (unat) & Lolo Jones (Asics) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
400H - 55.28 Sheena Tosta (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HJ - 2.00/6-6.75 Chaunte Lowe (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
PV - 4.41/14-5.5 Lacy Janson (unat) - Stockholm, SWE 8/6
LJ - 6.89/22-7.25 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
SP - 18.74/61-5.75 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Stockholm, SWE 8/5
DT - 62.61/205-5 Becky Breisch (Nike) - Nottwil, SUI 8/8
HT - 62.66/205-7 Shelby Ashe (Georgia HS) - Marietta, GA 8/7
Hept - 5984 Bettie Wade (Nike) - Marburg, GER 8/8

Catching up with David Oliver

David Oliver Named USATF Athlete of the Week from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.

David Oliver

Event: 110 meter hurdles
Personal Record: 12.90 seconds, ties American Record
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 pounds
College: Howard University ‘04
High School: Denver (Colo.) East ‘00
Coach: Brooks Johnson
Current Resident: Kissimmee, Florida

2010 U.S. Indoor National Championships 60m hurdle runner up
2010 U.S. World Indoor 60m bronze medalist
2010 U.S. Outdoor National Champion
2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist
2008 U.S. National Champion
2007 U.S. Outdoor Championships Bronze Medalist

Official Website: D.O. The King = 12.85
Twitter: davidoliversub13

Shalane Flanagan named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS (January 17, 2010).  The awards are starting to pull up for Shalane Flanagan.

Flanagan has won the 2010 USA Cross Country Championships at Plantes Ferry Recreation Park in Spokane, Wash and been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning her fourth USA Cross Country title on Saturday.

The 2008 Olympic Games 10,000m bronze medalist, Flanagan took command of the open women’s 8 km from the gun and never relinquished control, winning the race in 25:10. She was 51 seconds ahead of runner-up Molly Huddle, a two-time USA Women’s 10 km champion. It was the second national title for Flanagan so far this year; she broke the course record in winning the USA Half Marathon Championships in January.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 14

MEN

60 - 6.56 Mike Rodgers (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
200 - 20.80 Curtis Mitchell (Texas A&M) - College Station, TX 2/13
400 - 45.03 Torrin Lawrence (Georgia) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12   World leader
800 - 1:46.36ot Andrew Wheating (Oregon) - Seattle, WA 2/13
Mile - 3:55.79 Russell Brown (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
3000 - 7:49.94ot Craig Miller (Wisconsin) - Seattle, WA 2/13
5000 - 13:42.22ot Aaron Braun (Adams State) - Seattle, WA 2/12
60H - 7.43 Terrence Trammell (Trackstar Apparel) - Leipzig, GER 2/13   World leader
HJ - 2.32/7-7.25 Andra Manson (Nike) - Bydgoszcz, POL 2/10
PV - 5.52/18-1.25 Paul Gensic (USAF) - Air Force Academy, CO 2/13
LJ - 7.84/25-8.75 Jeff Henderson (unat) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12 & Bryce Lamb (Texas Tech) - College Station, TX 2/13
TJ - 16.55/54-3.75 Muhammad Halim (unat) - Ithaca, NY 2/13
SP - 21.61/70-10.75 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Leipzig, GER 2/13
WT - 23.33/76-6.5 Jake Freeman (NYAC) - Riverdale, NY 2/11
Hept - 5496 Weston Leutz (North Dakota St.) - Fargo, ND 2/13

WOMEN

60 - 7.23 Kya Brookins (South Carolina) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
200 - 23.15 Shalonda Solomon (Reebok) - Fayetteville, AR 2/13
400 - 51.67 Natasha Hastings (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
800 - 2:02.60 Alysia Johnson (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
Mile - 4:32.48ot Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific) - Seattle, WA 2/13
3000 - 9:12.25ot Jordan Hasay (Oregon) - Seattle, WA 2/13
5000 - 15:29.65ot Lisa Koll (Iowa State) - Ames, IA 2/13
60H - 8.00 Kellie Wells (unat) - Leipzig, GER 2/13
HJ - 1.94/6-4.25 Chaunte Howard-Lowe (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 2/13
PV - 4.66/15-3.5 Lacy Janson (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
LJ - 6.63/21-9 Brittney Reese (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/12
TJ - 13.82/45-4.25 Toni Smith (Oklahoma Elite) - Fayetteville, AR 2/13
SP - 17.48/57-4.25 Jill Camarena-Williams (NYAC) - Seattle, WA 2/13
WT - 22.34/73-3.5 D’Ana McCarty (Louisville) - Bloomington, IN 2/12
Pent - 4073 Liz Roehrig (unat) - Ames, IA 2/11

USA Track & Field contributed to this report.