Posted: March 22, 2005

Athletics: Fleshman named USATF Athlete of the Week; LeBourne breaks another masters WR

INDIANAPOLIS - Lauren Fleshman has been named USATF Athlete of the Week after leading Team USA to the women's team 4 km bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships Sunday in Saint Galmier, France.

A 14-time All-American while at Stanford University and the collegiate record holder at 5,000 meters, Fleshman placed 11th in the women's km race in 13 minutes, 44 seconds, to post the best finish by an American athlete in any of the six races held at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships.

Fleshman's performance paced Team USA to the bronze medal in the race, earning the first women's short-course team medal for the Americans since 1998. The 23-year-old was joined on Team USA by Blake Russell (15th), Shalane Flanagan (20th), Shayne Culpepper (21st), Amy Mortimer (52nd) and Missy Buttry (90th).

LeBourne sets another world masters record

Anselm LeBourne of Maplewood, N.J., set another pending world masters 45-49 age-group record Sunday at the 7th Annual FRNY Indoor Track Meet, held at the New Balance Track & Field Center in New York City.

LeBourne ran the 800 meters in 1 minute, 56. 29 seconds to better the previous world record of 1:57.32 by Peter Browne of Great Britain in 1990. LeBourne's performance also breaks the American record of 1:57.81 set in March of 1990 by Ken Sparks, and gave him the overall win in a race that included 19- and 20-year-olds.

Earlier this month at the Armory, LeBourne set a 45-49 age group world indoor record of 4:02.62 for 1500 meters. These were just the latest successes for LeBourne, whose track glory extends back to 1982, when he won the Big East 1,000-meter title while at Seton Hall.

About AOW

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; March 22, Lauren Fleshman.