Posted: July 14, 2004

Athletics: Greene named USATF Athlete of the Week

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – 2004 Olympic Trials 100m champion Maurice Greene has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the greatest men’s 100-meter final in Olympic Trials history.

The three-time world champion, reigning Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder, Greene ran an Olympic Trials record 9.91 seconds in Sunday’s final to hold off Justin Gatlin (9.92) and Shawn Crawford (9.93). Coby Miller was fourth in 9.99, marking the first time in Olympic Trials history that more than two men had dipped under 10 seconds in the men’s 100m final in wind-legal conditions.

Greene now leads an intimidating lineup of 100-meter men into Athens. Crawford has the fastest time in the world in 2004 with his 9.88 at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, and the 22-year-old Gatlin continues to improve and establish himself as a medal favorite in what three men are calling a possible medal sweep in Athens.

The men’s 100 meters was part of an amazing day of track & field on Sunday that saw an American, Olympic Trials and U.S. championships record by Tiombe Hurd in the women’s triple jump; thrilling wins by Sheena Johnson (52.95) and James Carter (47.68 world leader) in the men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles, respectively; and an impressive display in the men’s pole vault by Tim Mack (5.90m/19-4.25).

Other highlights of the first weekend of competition at the Olympic Trials were an Olympic Trials and U.S. championships record by Meb Keflezighi in the men’s 10,000m (27:36.49); an Olympic Trials, U.S. championships, American U.S. all-comers and collegiate record of 52.95 by Sheena Johnson in the women’s 400-meter hurdles; and American junior record by Sanya Richards (50.22) in the first round of the women’s 400 meters.

The Olympic Trials resume Thursday, following rest days on July 13 and 14.

For complete results, photos, athlete quotes and entry information, visit www.usatf.org/events/2004/OlympicTrials-TF.

2004 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 13, Dan Taylor; January 20, Jen Toomey; January 27, Erin Gilreath; February 3, Jearl Miles-Clark; February 10, Alan Culpepper; February 17, Curt Clausen; February 24, Jen Toomey; March 2, Gail Devers; March 9, Allen Johnson; March 16, Sanya Richards; March 23, Phillip Dunn; March 30, Max Springer; April 6, Colleen De Reuck; April 13, Erin Gilreath; April 20, Maurice Greene; May 4, Tonette Dyer; May 11, Toby Stevenson; May 18, Sheena Johnson; May 25, Tim Seaman; June 1, Maurice Greene; June 8, Christian Cantwell; June 15, Stacy Dragila; June 22, Alan Webb; June 29, Brittany Daniels; July 6, DeDee Nathan; July 13, Maurice Greene.

Records set at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials - As of 7/13/04

American record (1)
WTJ                Tiombe Hurd                  14.45/47-5          7/11

Olympic Trials records (4)
M100m            Maurice Greene             9.91                    7/11
WTJ                Tiombe Hurd                  14.45/47-5          7/11
W400H            Sheena Johnson            52.95                  7/11
M10,000          Meb Keflezighi                27:36.49             7/9

U.S. championship records (3)
M10,00            Meb Keflezighi                27:36.49             7/9
WTJ                Tiombe Hurd                  14.45/47-5          7/11
W400H            Sheena Johnson            52.95                  7/11

American junior record (1)
W400m           Sanya Richards             50.22                  7/12

Collegiate record (1)
W400H            Sheena Johnson            52.95                  7/11

American U.S. All-Comers record (1)  (fastest by an American on U.S. soil)
W400H            Sheena Johnson            52.95                  7/11