Posted: June 8, 2005

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 100 meters at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, the fourth stop of USATF's Visa Championship Series.

The 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist, Gatlin ran a wind-aided (+3.4mps) personal best time of 9.84 seconds, winning by a nose at the finish over Jamaica's Asafa Powell (runner-up, 9.84w). The win provided redemption for Gatlin, who had finished eighth in the 100 at the 2004 Nike Prefontaine Classic.

Also at the Nike Prefontaine Classic, Alan Webb became the fastest American in history over 2 miles with his second-place time of 8:11.48.

Other outstanding performers from last week included J-Mee Samuels of Mt. Tabor High School (N.C.), who clocked a 10.07w in the 100m and 20.32 seconds in the 200m at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque, N.M. His performance in the 200m makes him the #5 all-time prep performer. 2004 Olympian Erin Gilreath tossed 71.49 meters/234 feet, 6 inches to win the women's hammer throw at the Norwich Union International Match in Glasgow, Scotland, defeating the reigning Olympic gold medalist Olgain Kuzenkova of Russia in the process. Her performance is the 4th best ever by an American.

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; March 29, Deena Kastor; April 5, Deena Kastor; April 12, Tianna Madison; April 19 Alan Culpepper; April 26, John Godina; May 3, Amy Rudolph; May 10, Galen Rupp; May 17, Erica McLain; May 24, John Godina; June 1, Walter Dix; June 8, Justin Gatlin.

Best Marks Week Ending June 5

MEN 
100 - 10.28 Carlos Moore (Unattached) - Cottbus, GER 6/5
9.84w Justin Gatlin (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
200 - 20.32 J-Mee Samuels (North Carolina HS) - Albuquerque, NM 6/4
400 - 45.57 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
800 - 1:45.19 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
1500 - 3:34.95 (en route) Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
Mile - 3:51.53 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4 U.S. leader
3000 - (en route) 7:39.28 Alan Webb (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4 U.S. leader
2 Mile - 8:11.48 Alan Webb (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4 American Best/Record
3000SC - 8:31.84 Brian Olinger (Unattached) - Nashville, TN 6/4
110H - 13.12 Terrence Trammell (Mizuno) - Eugene, OR 6/4 U.S. leader
400H - 47.91 Bershawn Jackson (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
HJ - 2.27/7-5.25 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Glasgow, SCO 6/5
PV - 5.90/19-4.25 Brad Walker (Nike) 
& Toby Stevenson (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4 U.S. leader
LJ - 8.26/27-1.25 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Glasgow, SCO 6/5 U.S. leader
TJ - 17.05/55-11.25 Walter Davis (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
SP - 21.67/71-1.25 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Seville, ESP 6/4
DT - 64.69/212-3 Carl Brown (Nike) - Seville, ESP 6/4
Decathlon - 7604 Steven Moore (Unattached) - Arles, FRA 6/5
WOMEN 
100 - 11.16 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
200 - 22.98 Angela Daigle (Nike) - Los Angeles, CA 6/5
400 - 49.98 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
800 - 2:01.20 Alice Schmidt (adidas) - Eugene, OR 6/4
1500 - 4:09.45 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
3000 - 9:04.33 Sharon Dickie-Thompson (Nike) - Glasgow, SCO 6/5
3000SC - 9:44.70 Elizabeth Jackson (Unattached) - Los Angeles, CA 6/5 U.S. leader
100H - 12.72 Joanna Hayes (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
400H - 54.40 Sandra Glover (Nike) - Turin, ITA 6/3
HJ - 1.95/6-4.75 Erin Aldrich (Unattached) - Eugene, OR 6/4 U.S. leader
PV - 4.55/14-11 Tracy O'Hara (adidas) & Stacy Dragila (Nike) - San Diego, CA 6/4
LJ - 6.49/21-3.5 Grace Upshaw (Nike) - Eugene, OR 6/4
TJ - 13.56/44-6 Shakeema Walker (Unattached) - Turin, ITA 6/3
HT- 71.49/234-6 Erin Gilreath (NYAC) - Glasgow, SCO 6/5 U.S. leader
JT - 58.40/191-7 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Los Angeles, CA 6/5