Posted: March 7, 2007

Athletics: Bizuneh named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Fasil Bizuneh has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the men's 8 km race Sunday at the third annual North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Clermont, Fla. A former Arizona State University standout, Bizuneh led a U.S. sweep in the men's open race, crossing the finish line in a course record 24 minutes 46 seconds to lead Team USA to the team title in the 8 km event. The runner-up at the 2007 USA Half Marathon Championships, this was Bizuneh's last opportunity to asses his training progress before he takes on the world as a member of Team USA at the 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya on March 24. 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. 2007 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 2, Thomas Morgan; January 9, Jacquelyn Coward; January 16, Ryan Hall; January 23, Johnny Dutch; January 30, Shalane Flanagan; February 6, Gail Devers; February 13, Alan Culpepper; February 20, Bernard Lagat; February 27, Christian Cantwell. Best Marks Week Ending March 4 MEN 55 - 6.17 Travis Padgett (Clemson) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 60 - 6.69 Ravyn Hayward (Northwestern State La.) & J-Mee Samuels (Arkansas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/2 200 - 20.39 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 3/2 World leader 400 - 46.39 Michael Bingham (Wake Forest) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 800 - 1:47.90 Alex McClary (Unat.) - Fayetteville, AR 3/2 U.S. leader Mile - 3:59.18 (ot) Blake Boldon (Unat.) - Ames, IA 3/3 3000 - 7:53.08 (ot) Colby Wissel (Kansas) - Notre Dame, IN 3/4 5000 - 13:37.32 Josh McDougal (Liberty) - Boston, MA 3/4 55H - 7.18 Mike Wray (Pitt) - Boston, MA 3/4 60H - 7.70 Jeff Porter (Michigan) - Notre Dame, IN 3/4 HJ - 2.22/7-3.25 Kyley Johnson (Team XO) - Seattle, WA 3/3 PV - 5.60/18-4.5 Jacob Pauli (Nike) - Ames, IA 3/3 LJ - 7.85/25-9.25 Trey Hardee (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 3/2 TJ - 15.88/52-1.25 Rayon Taylor (Cornell) - Boston, MA 3/4 & Jason Bell (Clemson) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 SP - 19.94/65-5 Russ Winger (Idaho) - Seattle, WA 3/3 WT - 21.12/69-3.5 Eric Frasure (East Carolina) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 Hept - 5960 Paul Terek (Asics) - Chapel Hill, NC 3/4 WOMEN 60 - 7.19 Juanita Broaddus (Unat.) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/2 200 - 23.77 Khrystal Carter (Texas A&M) - Fayetteville, AR 3/2 400 - 52.10 (ot) Ashlee Kidd (Georgia Tech) - Ames, IA 3/3 800 - 2:05.60 (ot) Georgia Kloss (North Carolina) - Notre Dame, IN 3/4 Mile - 4:39.95 (ot) Jennie Twitchell (Utah State) - Seattle, WA 3/3 3000 - 9:22.01 Lindsay Donaldson (Yale) - Boston, MA 3/4 5000 - 16:11.57 Sally Meyerhoff (Duke) - Boston, MA 3/4 55H - 7.61 Kristi Castlin (Virginia Tech) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 60H - 8.11 Jessica Ohanaja (LSU) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/2 HJ - 1.84/6-0.5 Sarah Wilfred (Cornell) - Boston, MA 3/4 & Raevan Harris (Auburn) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/2 PV - 4.17/13-8.25 Melinda Owen (Idaho) & Brysun Stately (Nebraska) - Seattle, WA 3/3 LJ - 6.45/21-2 Brenda Faluade (Miami) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 TJ - 13.53/44-4.75 Tomika Ferguson (Virginia) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 U.S. leader SP - 16.40/53-9.75 Abby Ruston (Texas State) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/2 WT - 20.91/68-7.25 Khadija Talley (Miami) - Blacksburg, VA 3/3 Pent - 4098 Fiona Asigbee (Unat.) - Chapel Hill, NC 3/4