Posted: January 11, 2006

Athletics: Rhett named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Amandi Rhett has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after shattering a 20 year-old record Saturday at the Colgate Women's Games held at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

A former All-American at Georgia Tech, Rhett finished in 6.6 seconds in the 55m dash to better Diane Dixon's previous record of 6.85 seconds.

Other notable performers over the weekend include 2005 USA Indoor pole vault champion Jen Stuczynski, who recorded the second highest pole vault clearance in U.S. women's indoor track history Saturday when she cleared 4.62 meters/15 feet, 2 inches at the Sharon Anderson Memorial Track and Field Meet at the University of Toronto. Also, 2005 IAAF World Youth 100m champion and 200m silver medalist Bianca Knight blasted past the competition when she ran 6.79 seconds to win the 55m Saturday at the LSU High School Track & Field Classic in Baton Rouge, La.

Now in its sixth 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.

2006 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 3, Walt Henning; January 10, Amandi Rhett.

Best Marks Week Ending January 8

MEN 
55 - 6.30 Trey Harts (LaHS) - Baton Rouge, LA 1/7
400 - 46.67 David Neville (Indiana) - Bloomington, IN 1/7
60H - 7.61 Aries Merritt (Tennessee) - Bloomington, IN 1/7
HJ - 2.28/7-5.75 Keith Moffatt (Morehouse) - Nashville, TN 1/8
LJ - 7.70/25-3.25 Iran Bickham (Jackson St.) - Nashville, TN 1/8
TJ - 15.82/51-11 Marc Kellman (George Mason) - Fairfax, VA 1/7
SP - 18.79/61-7.75 Derek Anderson (Northeastern) - Hanover, NH 1/8
35lb Wt - 21.91/71-10.75 Jake Freeman (NYAC) - Hanover, NH 1/8
25lbWt - 24.69/81-0 (HS Junior class record) Walter Henning (NYHS) - Hanover, NH 1/7

WOMEN 
55 - 6.79 Bianca Knight (MsHS) - Baton Rouge, LA 1/7
60 - 7.40 Kellie Wells (Hampton) - Princess Anne, MD 1/7
400 - 53.65 Mary Danner (Unattached) - Bloomington, IN 1/7
3000 - 9:36.37 Nicole Blood (Fastlane TC) - Hanover, NH 1/8
60H - 8.21 Kellie Wells (Hampton) - Princess Anne, MD 1/7
HJ - 1.92/6-3.5 Gwen Wentland (Nike) - Manhattan, KS 1/7
PV - 4.62/15-1.75 Jenn Stuczynski (Suhr Sports) - Toronto, CAN 1/
8LJ - 6.24/20-5.75 Shameka Marshall (Rutgers) - New York City 1/6
TJ - 12.77/41-10.75 Shani Marks (Unattached) - Minneapolis, MN 1/7
20lb Wt. - 20.06/65-9.75 Kristal Yush (nee Kostiew) (Unattached) - Hanover, NH 1/8
Pent. - 4022 Reidun Wallin (ASC Elite) - Hanover, NH 1/6

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