Posted: February 9, 2005

Athletics: Merritt named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - LaShawn Merritt has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting a world-leading mark in the 400 meters Sunday at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.

A triple World Junior Championships gold medalist and the 2004 Verizon Youth Athlete of the Year, Merritt ran 45.94 to win the men's 400m in Gainesville. A freshman at East Carolina University, Merritt's world-leading time was also a new school record, bettering Brian Irving's 46.19 set in 1991.

Another notable performer was four-time world outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson, who won his fourth career Millrose Games 60m hurdles title Friday night overcoming a rough early part of his race to win in a world leading time of 7.53 seconds.

Now in its fifth 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.

2005 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 4, Amy Rudolph; January 11, Dathan Ritzenhein; January 18, Janine Davis; January 25, Wallace Spearmon Jr.; February 1, Erin Gilreath; February 8, LaShawn Merritt.

Best Marks Week Ending February 6

Men 

60 - 6.56 Johnie Drake (Central Michigan) - Notre Dame, IN 2/5 
200 - 20.67 Xavier Carter (LSU) - New York City 2/5 
400 - 45.94 Lashawn Merritt (East Carolina) - Gainesville, FL 2/6 World leader 
800 - 1:48.24 James Hatch (Arkansas) - New York City 2/5 
1:48.05OT Mike Inge (Kent State) - Kent, OH 2/5 
Mile - 3:56.44OT Sean Jefferson (Indiana) - Notre Dame, IN 2/5 
3000 - 7:51.00OT Stephen Haas (Indiana) - Notre Dame, IN 2/5 
5000 - 14:08.40 Galen Rupp (Nike) - Boise, ID 2/5 
60H - 7.53 Allen Johnson (Nike) - New York City 2/4 World leader 
HJ - 2.31/7-7 Matt Hemingway (adidas) - Arnstadt, GER 2/5 
PV - 5.71/18-8.75 Brad Walker (Unattached) - Erfurt, GER 2/4 
LJ - 8.18/26-10 Brian Johnson (Holyfield Intl.) - Flagstaff, AZ 2/5 
TJ - 16.61/54-6 Kenta Bell (Nike) - Gainesville, FL 2/6 
SP - 21.62/70-11.25 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - New York City 2/4 
Weight - 22.88/75-0.75 Dan Taylor (Nike) - Akron, OH 2/5 
Heptathlon - 5461 Chris Wineberg (Unattached) - Akron, OH 2/5 
Women 

60 - 7.22 Angela Daigle (Nike) - New York City 2/4 
200 - 23.59 Erica Whipple (South Carolina) - New York City 2/5 
400 - 52.64 Natasha Hastings (South Carolina) - New York City 2/5 
52.41OT Licretia Sibley (Texas Tech) - Lubbock, TX 2/5 
800 - 2:06.00 Hazel Clark (Nike) - New York City 2/4 
Mile - 4:33.69 Sarah Schwald (Nike) - New York City 2/4 
3000 - 9:17.96 Keira Carlstrom (American U.) - New York City 2/5 
5000 - 15:52.17 Caroline Bierbaum (Columbia) - New York City 2/4 
60H - 8.02 Danielle Carruthers (Nike) - New York City 2/4 
HJ - 1.88/6-2 Gwen Wentland (Unattached) - Lincoln, NE 2/5 
PV - 4.48/14-8.25 Stacy Dragila (Nike) - New York City 2/4 
LJ - 6.41/21-0.5 Marshevet Hooker (Texas) - Houston, TX 2/5 
TJ - 13.69/44-11 Erica McLain (Stanford) - New York City 2/5 
SP - 17.47/57-3.75 Michelle Carter (Texas) - Houston, TX 2/5 
Weight - 23.69/77-8.75 Erin Gilreath (NYAC) - Gainesville, FL 2/6 
Pentathlon - 4171 Ashley Selig (Nebraska) - Lincoln, NE 2/4 

Source: Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USATF.org.