Posted: February 22, 2005

Athletics: Davis named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Walter Davis has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after his world-leading performance in the men's triple jump Friday at the LSU Twilight Invitational in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The 2003 World Indoor silver medalist, Davis leaped 17.62 meters/57 feet, 9.75 inches to win. A resident of Baton Rouge, Davis' mark is the second best ever indoor performance by an American, behind 2004 Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist and USATF Executive Director of Elite Athletes, Mike Conley.

2004 Olympic Trials champion and American hammer throw record holder Erin Gilreath turned in another impressive performance. Her most recent world best came Friday in Hoosier Hills Meet in Bloomington, Ind., with her throw of 24.23m/79-6.

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; February 15, LaShawn Merritt; February 22, Walter Davis.

Best Marks Week Ending February 20

MEN

60 - 6.49 Leonard Scott (Nike) - Birmingham, ENG 2/18U.S. leader
200 - 21.12 Walter Dix (Florida State) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/19
400 - 46.11 Jerry Harris (adidas) - Birmingham, ENG 2/18
45.82 OT Domenik Peterson (Arizona State) - Flagstaff, AZ 2/20
1000 - 2:21.03 OT Mike Inge (Kent State) - Kent, OH 2/19
1500 - 3:39.81 David Krummenacker (adidas) - Birmingham, ENG 2/18 U.S. leader
3000 - 8:01.73 Josh McDougal (Liberty) - Blacksburg, VA 2/19
60H - 7.63 Ron Bramlett (Nike) - Tallinn, EST 2/20
HJ - 2.26/7-5 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Athens, GRE 2/20
PV - 5.81/19-0.75 Derek Miles (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 2/15
LJ - 8.16/26-9.25 John Moffitt (Nike) - Baton Rouge, LA 2/18
TJ - 17.62/57-9.75 Walter Davis (Nike) - Baton Rouge, LA 2/18 World leader
SP - 20.89/68-6.5 John Godina (adidas) - Flagstaff, AZ 2/20
Weight - 23.11/75-10 Kibwe Johnson (Unattached) - Kent, OH 2/19
Pentathlon - 4032 Nate Schmidt (Unattached) - Fargo, ND 2/19 U.S. leader
Heptathlon - 5404 Rob Bates (North Carolina) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/18

WOMEN 
60 - 7.17 Muna Lee (Nike) - Birmingham, ENG 2/18 U.S. leader
200 - 23.70 Bianca Knight (Mississippi HS) - Pocatello, ID 2/19
400 - 53.48 Charlette Greggs (Miami) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/19
800 - 2:07.00 Heidi Houle (Utah HS) - Pocatello, ID 2/19
Mile - 4:38.66 Shannon Rowbury (Duke) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/19
3000 - 9:20.74 Shannon Rowbury (Duke) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/18
5000 - 16:09.34 Maureen McCandless (Pittsburgh) - Syracuse, NY 2/19
3000 Racewalk - 13:27.12 Joanne Dow (adidas) - Boston, MA 2/20 U.S. leader
60H - 7.99 Melissa Morrison-Howard (adidas) - Birmingham, ENG 2/18
HJ - 1.90/6-2.75 Chaunte Howard (Georgia Tech) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/19
LJ- 6.47/21-2.75 Grace Upshaw (Nike) - Stockholm, SWE 2/15
TJ - 13.23/43-5 Brittany Daniels (California HS) - Pocatello, ID 2/19
SP - 17.72/58-1.75 Jillian Camarena (Reebok) - Reno, NV 2/19
Weight - 24.23/79-6 Erin Gilreath (NYAC) - Bloomington, IN 2/18 World Record/Best
Pentathlon - 4028 Amber Williams (Miami) - Chapel Hill, NC 2/17

Source: Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USATF.org.