Posted: July 11, 2005

Athletics: Richards named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Two-time U.S. champion Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after posting consecutive victories last week on the European circuit.

Already the world leader this year in the women's 400 meters, Richards' first win last week came on Tuesday when she handed 2004 Olympic gold medalist Tonique Darling of the Bahamas her first loss of the season in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 20-year-old Olympic and world championships 4x400m gold medalist pulled away in the final 100 meters to win in 49.96 seconds, with Darling the runner-up in 50.14.

Richards followed that performance with a win Friday over a strong field at the Golden Gala in Rome that included reigning world champion Ana Guevara of Mexico. Richards cruised across the finish line in 49.82 seconds, well ahead of Guevara, who was the runner-up in 50.62.

Another impressive performance was turned in last week by reigning U.S. champion Daniel Lincoln, who finished the men's 3,000m steeplechase at Rome in 8 minutes, 12.65 seconds in becoming the #3 all-time U.S. performer in that event. Also in Rome, former Stanford great Lauren Fleshman crossed the finish line in 15:02.52 to become the #8 all-time U.S. performer in the women's 5,000 meters and achieve the IAAF "A" standard for the World Championships.

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; July 12, Sanya Richards.

Best Marks Week Ending July 10

MEN
100 - 9.96 Justin Gatlin (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
200 - 20.38 Leonard Scott (Nike) - Rethymnon, GRE 7/10
400 - 44.96 Jeremy Wariner (adidas) - Lausanne, SUI 7/5
800 - 1:44.77 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Cuxhaven, GER 7/9 U.S. leader
1500 - 3:31.09 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
3000 - 7:53.49 Adam Goucher (Nike) - Cuxhaven, GER 7/9
3000SC - 8:12.65 Daniel Lincoln (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
110H - 13.05 Terrence Trammell (Mizuno) - Lausanne, SUI 7/5
400H - 48.41 James Carter (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
HJ - 2.30/7-6.5 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
PV - 5.81/19-0.75 Toby Stevenson (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
LJ - 8.39/27-6.5 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
TJ - 16.64/54-7.25 Aarik Wilson (Indiana) - Bloomington, IN 7/6
SP - 20.12/66-0.25 Dan Taylor (Nike) - Salamanca, ESP 7/6
DT - 63.32/207-9 Ian Waltz (HPTC) - Rethymnon, GRE 7/10

WOMEN
100 - 10.91 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - Lausanne, SUI 7/5 U.S. leader
200 - 23.00 Allyson Felix (adidas) - Rethymnon, GRE 7/10
400 - 49.82 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
800 - 1:59.30 Hazel Clark (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
1500 - 4:05.77 Treniere Clement (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
3000SC - 9:51.31 Lisa Galaviz (Unat.) - Rethymnon, GRE 7/10
5000 - 15:02.52 Lauren Fleshman (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8 U.S. leader
100H - 12.45 Michelle Perry (Nike) - Rethymnon, GRE 7/10
400H - 53.68 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Rome, ITA 7/8
PV - 4.60/15-1 Stacy Dragila (Nike) - Lausanne, SUI 7/5 =U.S. leader
JT - 56.24/184-6 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Cuxhaven, GER 7/9