Posted: July 7, 2005

Athletics: Collins named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Ebony Collins has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after she clocked the fastest youth time ever by a female in the 400m hurdles to conclude the USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 16-year-old, Los Angeles native used the inside lane to her advantage clocking 57.87 to set a 400m hurdles record in the intermediate girls division (15-16), bettering the 58.84 set in 2001 by Talia Stewart.

Collins' performance also betters the 400m hurdles young women's division (17-18). record of 57.94 set in 2001 by Tiffany Ross of Miami, Fla.

Allah sets pending masters WR

On the opposite end of the age spectrum, Sal Allah set a pending world record for masters 45-49-year-old men on Saturday, July 2, at the USATF East Region Open Men's and Women's Track & Field Championships. The meet was hosted by USATF's New Jersey Association at Stockton State College in Pomona, N.J.

The 2003 world masters champion, Allah ran a time of 1:54.18 on Saturday, placing fourth overall in a race that included many collegians. His 400-meter split of 54 seconds helped propel him to the record, which eclipses the pending record of 1:55.13 run by nemesis Anselm Lebourne on June 26, in a race in which Allah was just .05 seconds back.

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; June 15, Darold Williamson; June 23, Willie Gault; June 28, Kerron Clement; July 6, Ebony Collins.

Best Marks Week Ending July 3

MEN 
100 - 10.13 Leonard Scott (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
200 - 20.70 Coby Miller (Nike) - Padua, ITA 7/3
400 - 45.30 Derrick Brew (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
800 - 1:47.36 Jeremy Mims (Nike) - Padua, ITA 7/3
1500 - 3:30.46 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
3000 - 8:00.00 Daniel Lincoln (Nike) - Cork, IRL 7/2
110H - 13.04 Allen Johnson (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
400H - 48.05 James Carter (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
HJ - 2.24/7-4.25 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
PV - 5.80/19-0.25 Brad Walker (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
LJ - 8.20/26-11 Brian Johnson (Holyfield Intl.) - Lapinlahti, FIN 7/3
TJ - 15.86/52-0.5 Kenta Bell (Nike) - Namur, BEL 7/1
SP - 20.35/66-9.25 Dan Taylor (Nike) - Padua, ITA 7/3

WOMEN 
100 - 11.16 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
400 - 50.67 Monique Hennagan (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
1500 - 4:10.55 Carrie Tollefson (adidas) - Padua, ITA 7/3
3000 - 8:57.92 Shalane Flanagan (Nike) - Cork, IRL 7/2
100H - 12.60 Joanna Hayes (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
400H - 53.85 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Paris, FRA 7/1
PV - 4.12/13-6.25 Britany Parker (Texas HS) - Hallsville, TX 7/2
JT - 54.64/179-3 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Lapinlahti, FIN 7/3.