Posted: March 16, 2005

Athletics: Clement named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Kerron Clement has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after breaking the indoor 400-meter world record at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

A 19-year-old sophomore from the University of Florida, Clement dazzled the audience winning in 44.57 seconds, bettering the previous world record of 44.63 set by National Track & Field Hall of Famer, two-time Olympic 400m gold medalist and outdoor world record holder Michael Johnson at the USA Indoor Championships on March 4, 1995.

The reigning world junior and NCAA 400m hurdles champion, Clement later that evening anchored Florida's 4x400m relay team that won the national title in a new collegiate record time of 3:03.51. Also at the NCAA championships, Wallace Spearmon of the University of Arkansas twice broke the American indoor record in the 200 meters, including his winning time in the final of 20.10 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; February 15, LaShawn Merritt; February 22, Walter Davis; March 1, Angela Daigle; March 8, Gov. Mike Huckabee; March 15, Kerron Clement.

Best Marks Week Ending March 13

MEN 
60 - 6.58 DaBryan Blanton (Oklahoma) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
200 - 20.10 Wallace Spearmon (Arkansas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11American Record
400 - 44.57 Kerron Clement (Florida) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12World Record
800 - 1:46.97 Kevin Hicks (Florida A&M) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
Mile - 4:01.56 Sean Jefferson (Indiana) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
3000 - 7:53.59 Chris Solinsky (Wisconsin) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
5000 - 13:43.36 Ian Dobson (Stanford) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
60H - 7.64 Antwon Hicks (Ole Miss) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
HJ - 2.26/7-5 Jesse Williams (USC) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
PV - 5.60/18-4.5 Tommy Skipper (Oregon) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
LJ - 8.17/26-9.75 Aarik Wilson (Indiana) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
TJ - 16.92/55-6.25 Aarik Wilson (Indiana) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
SP - 19.51/64-0.25 Sean Shields (Arizona) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
Weight - 22.16/72-8.5 Cory Martin (Auburn) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
Heptathlon - 5925 Donovan Kilmartin (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12

WOMEN 
60 - 7.25 Marshevet Hooker (Texas) & Courtney Champion (Tennessee) - Fayetteville, AR3/11
200 - 22.90 Tremedia Brice (Texas Southern) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11U.S. leader
400 - 52.21 Natasha Hastings (South Carolina) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
800 - 2:05.70 Ashley Patten (Missouri) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
Mile - 4:38.23 Anne Shadle (Nebraska) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
3000 - 9:22.81 Renee Metivier (Colorado) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
5000 - 15:52.53 Caroline Bierbaum (Columbia) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11
60H - 7.94 Ginnie Powell (USC) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11U.S. leader
HJ - 1.92/6-3.5 Chaunte Howard (Georgia Tech) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11 U.S. leader
PV -4.32/14-2 Mary Saxer (NYHS) - Landover, MD 3/13
LJ - 6.78/22-3 Tianna Madison (Tennessee) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11U.S. leader
TJ - 13.62/44-8.25 Erica McLain (Stanford) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
SP - 17.86/58-7.25 Michelle Carter (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/11U.S. leader
Weight - 22.65/74-3.75 Loree Smith (Colorado St.) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12
Pentathlon - 4327 Ashley Selig (Nebraska) - Fayetteville, AR 3/12