Posted: August 10, 2005

Athletics: Nelson named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Adam Nelson has been named USATF Athlete of the Week after winning his first career World Championships gold medal Saturday in the men's shot put.

Entering the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Nelson (Athens, Ga.), 30, was the silver surfer of the shot, placing runner-up at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, the '01 and '03 World Outdoor Championships, and '01 World Indoor Championships. Although he has been Team USA's most consistent medal-winner in any event since 2000, he still sought the elusive gold.

Saturday in Helsinki, his first toss of the competition, 21.73 meters/71 feet, 3.50 was his best mark since 2002 and gave him the win, and gave Team USA its first medal of the Championships.

Race walkers earn U.S. titles

At the USA 15 km Race Walking Championships on Sunday, August 7, in Watertown, Ma., Ben Shorey (Osborn, Maine) and Joanne Dow (Manchester, N.H.) won the men's and women's titles, respectively. It was the first open U.S. title for Shorey, 22, a two-time U.S. junior champion, who finished in 1:11:00. Dow, 41, is a many-time U.S. champion and the 2003 Pan Am Games bronze medalist. She finished Sunday's race in 1:14:13 to win by 1:40.

Michael Kazmierczak (Plainview, N.Y.)won the junior men's title, placing fifth overall in the open division in 1:19:40.

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; July 19, Galen Rupp; July 28, Wallace Spearmon Jr.; August 2, Ryan Whiting; August 9, Adam Nelson.

Best Marks Week Ending August 7

MEN 
100 - 9.88 Justin Gatlin (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7 U.S. leader
400- 46.39 Quentin Summers (Texas HS) - New Orleans, LA 8/6
1500 - 3:36.84 Alan Webb (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
3000SC - 8:21.39 Daniel Lincoln (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
20kWalk - 1:27:10 John Nunn (US Army) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
400H - 47.78 James Carter (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
SP - 21.73/71-3.5 Adam Nelson (Unat.) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
DT - 64.30/210-11 Ian Waltz (HPTC) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
HT - 73.63/241-7 A.G. Kruger (Ashland Elite) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6

WOMEN 
100 - 11.15 Lisa Barber (adidas) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
400 - 51.00 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
800 - 1:59.00 Hazel Clark (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
3000SC - 9:39.68 Carrie Messner (Asics) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6 U.S. leader
10,000 - 31:21.20 Katie McGregor (adidas) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
100H - 13.45 GiGi Miller (Unat.) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
HJ - 1.93/6-4 Chaunte Howard (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
PV - 4.45/14-7.25 Jillian Schwartz (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
LJ - 6.50/21-4 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
TJ - 13.29/43-7.25 Erica McLain (Stanford) - Helsinki, FIN 8/6
DT - 57.68/189-3 Seilala Sua (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7
Hept - 6055 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Helsinki, FIN 8/7