Posted: September 8, 2005

Athletics: Abdirahman named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Two-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting a pending U.S. record Monday at the 2005 U.S. 20 km Championships in New Haven, Conn.

Despite being led off course once and having his progress impeded by a wayward car, Abdirahman's winning time of 58 minutes, 42 seconds whittled 15 seconds off Meb Keflezighi's 2003 U.S. record run on the same course.

Abdirahman, who has tentative plans to run the New York City Marathon in November, averaged a 4:43 mile pace throughout.

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, September 6, Abdi Abdirahman.

Best Marks Week Ending September 4

MEN

100 - 10.17 Coby Miller (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/4200 - 20.43 Tyree Washington (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4400 - 45.86 Tyree Washington (Nike) - Dubnica, SVK 8/29800 - 1:47.13 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/41500 - 3:46.43 Luke Watson (adidas) - Paris, FRA 9/35000 - 12:59.29 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4 U.S. leader110H - 13.20 Dominique Arnold (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4HJ - 2.20/7-2.5 Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4PV - 5.63/18-5.5 Nick Hysong (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4LJ - 7.84/25-8.75 Dwight Phillips (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/4TJ - 16.43/53-11 Walter Davis (Nike) - Dubnica, SVK 8/29SP - 21.06/69-1.25 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Berlin, GER 9/4DT - 61.16/200-8 Ian Waltz (HPTC) - Paris, FRA 9/3JT - 79.15/259-8 Mike Hazle (Unat.) - Dubnica, SVK 8/29

WOMEN

100 - 11.16 Lisa Barber (adidas) - Berlin, GER 9/4200 - 23.42 Moushaumi Robinson (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/4400 - 51.26 Monique Hennagan (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/3800 - 2:04.62 Sasha Spencer (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/41500 - 4:12.51 Jenelle Deatherage (Reebok) - Paris, FRA 9/35000 - 15:24.59 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4100H - 12.90 Michelle Perry (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/4400H - 54.17 Sandra Glover (Nike) - Berlin, GER 9/4HJ - 1.83/6-0 Erin Aldrich (Unat.) - Paris, FRA 9/3PV - 4.25/13-11.25 Jillian Schwartz (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/3LJ - 6.62/21-8.75 Rose Richmond (Nike) - Moscow, RUS 9/4SP - 17.39/57-0.75 Kristin Heaston (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/3DT - 63.58/208-7 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Dubnica, SVK 8/29JT - 55.28/181-4 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Paris, FRA 9/3