Posted: August 25, 2004

Athletics: Gatlin named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Justin Gatlin has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the first gold medal in track & field for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

The 22-year-old Gatlin finished in a personal-best and world-leading time of 9.85 seconds to win gold in the men's 100m. The two-time NCAA 100m outdoor champion while at the University of Tennessee persevered in the fastest men's 100m final in Olympic history as five athletes ran under 10 seconds at Olympic Stadium.

Now in its fourth 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.

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; July 6, Le Shundra "DeDee" Nathan; July 13, Maurice Greene; July 20, LaShawn Merritt; July 27, Dwight Phillips; August 3, Briana Shook; August 10, Flo Meiler; August 18, Adam Nelson; August 24, Justin Gatlin.

Best Marks Week Ending August 22

Men 
100 - 9.85 Justin Gatlin (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/22World Leader
400 - 44.87 Jeremy Wariner (Baylor) - Athens, GRE 8/21
1500 - 3:41.25 Alan Webb (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
3000SC - 8:19.62 Daniel Lincoln (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
10,000 - 28:14.53 Dan Browne (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
20K Walk - 1:25:17 Tim Seaman (NYAC) - Athens, GRE 8/20
HJ - 2.34/7-8 Matt Hemingway (adidas) & Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/22 U.S. Leader
TJ - 16.98/55-8.5 Kenta Bell (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
SP - 21.16/69-5.25 Adam Nelson (Nike) - Olympia, GRE 8/18
DT - 63.27/207-7 Casey Malone (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
HT - 75.04/246-2 James Parker (US Air Force) - Athens, GRE 8/20

Women 
100 - 10.96 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
200 - 22.91 Michelle Perry (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
400 - 49.88 Monique Hennagan (Unattached) - Athens, GRE 8/22
800 - 1:58.71 Jearl Miles-Clark (New Balance) - Athens, GRE 8/21
5000 - 15:24.88 Marla Runyan (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
100H - 12.71 Joanna Hayes (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/22
400H - 54.32 Sheena Johnson (UCLA) - Athens, GRE 8/22
Marathon - 2:27:20 Deena Kastor (Asics) - Athens, GRE 8/22U.S. Leader
PV - 4.30/14-1.25 Stacy Dragila (Nike) & Jillian Schwartz (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
LJ - 6.25/20-6.25 Shelia Burrell (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
TJ - 13.98/45-10.5 Tiombe Hurd (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21
SP - 17.17/56-4 Kristin Heaston (Nike) - Olympia, GRE 8/18
DT - 58.82/193-0 Aretha Hill (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/20
Heptathlon - 6296 Shelia Burrell (Nike) - Athens, GRE 8/21U.S. Leader