Posted: August 30, 2005

Athletics: Lagat named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Bernard Lagat has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting an American record in the men's 1,500m Sunday at the IAAF Grand Prix meet in Rieti, Italy.

The 30-year-old Lagat ran 3 minutes, 29.30 seconds to better the previous American record of 3:29.77 set by Sydney Maree on August 25, 1985 in Cologne, Germany. Lagat's performance is also a world best for 2005.

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, August 16; Justin Gatlin; August 23, Sanya Richards, August 30, Bernard Lagat.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 28

MEN 
100 - 9.99 Justin Gatlin (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
200 - 20.69 Coby Miller (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
400 - 45.72 Tyree Washington (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
800 - 1:47.23 Derrick Peterson (adidas) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
1500 - 3:29.30 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 8/28 American Record
3000 - 7:46.45 Adam Goucher (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
3000SC - 8:19.46 Anthony Famiglietti (adidas) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
110H - 13.16 Allen Johnson (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
HJ - 2.20/7-2.5 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
PV - 5.96/19-6.5 Brad Walker (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 8/28 U.S. leader
LJ - 8.57/28-1.5 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
TJ - 17.30/56-9.25 Walter Davis (Nike) - Banska Bystrica, SVK 8/28
SP - 21.06/69-1.25 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
DT - 64.32/211-0 Jarred Rome (HPTC) - Linz, AUT 8/23
JT - 75.81/248-8 Mike Hazle (Unattached) - Copenhagen, DEN 8/23

WOMEN 
100 - 11.05 Lisa Barber (adidas) - Brussels,BEL 8/26
200 - 23.19 Stephanie Durst (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
400 - 51.28 Monique Hennagan (Nike) - Banska Bystrica, SVK 8/28
800 - 2:00.28 Kameisha Bennett (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
1500 - 4:05.75 Lindsey Gallo (Reebok) - Rieti, ITA 8/28 U.S. leader
3000 - 9:05.02 Sarah Schwald (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
3000SC - 9:50.30 Elizabeth Jackson (Nike) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
100H - 12.70 Michelle Perry (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23
400H - 53.61 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
HJ - 1.87/6-1.5 Erin Aldrich (Unattached) - Rieti, ITA 8/28
PV - 4.43/14-6.25 Jillian Schwartz (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
LJ - 6.53/21-5.25 Grace Upshaw (Nike) - Brussels, BEL 8/26
DT - 58.38/191-6 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Linz, AUT 8/23