Posted: June 6, 2007

Athletics: Stuczynski named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Jenn Stuczynski has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after becoming the first American woman to clear 16 feet in the pole vault Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City, the third stop of USATF's Visa Championship Series. Stuczynski's winning clearance of 4.88 meters/16 feet 0 inches, was her second American record and world leader in two weeks, and extended her lead as the top performer of the Visa Championship Series. She broke Stacy Dragila's three-year-old American record on May 20 at the adidas Track Classic (4.84m/15-10.5). Saturday in New York, she had the bar set at 16 feet and took two solid tries that failed. On her third attempt at the height, Stuczynski gave the bar a brush, but it stayed up, giving her the American record, as well as the U.S. all-comers record. Stuczynski currently owns the three highest clearances in the world this year. Other impressive performances in New York came from two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, who set a personal best in the men's 110m hurdles with his time of 12.95 seconds (equals 7th fastest all-time), and Ginnie Powell, who posted the fastest women's 100m hurdles time in the world this season of 12.45 seconds. 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; March 6, Fasil Bizuneh; March 13, Natasha Hastings; March 20, Anthony Famiglietti; March 27, Nadine O'Connor; April 4, Natasha Hastings; April 10, Diana Pickler; April 17, Shalane Flanagan; April 24, Virginia Tech women's team, Ryan Hall; May 1, Jen Rhines; May 8, Walter Henning; May 15, Allyson Felix; May 22, Breaux Greer; May 29, Walter Dix; June 5, Jenn Stuczynski. Best Marks Week Ending June 3 MEN 100 - 10.14 Leroy Dixon (Unat.) - Eagle Rock, CA 6/3; 9.76w (+2.2) Tyson Gay (adidas), New York, NY, 6/2 200 - 19.82 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 400 - 45.09 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 800 - 1:46.38 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 1500 - 3:42.10 Thomas Brooks (Oregon TC) - Eagle Rock, CA 6/3 Mile - 3:52.94 Alan Webb (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 3000SC - 8:48.67 Jacob Januszewski (Unat.) - Eagle Rock, CA 6/3 5000 - 14:46.26 Ryan Shay (Unat.) - Eagle Rock, CA 6/3 20k Walk - 1:22:56 Kevin Eastler (USAF) - La Coruna, ESP 6/2 U.S. leader 110H - 12.95 Terrence Trammell (Mizuno) - New York City, NY 6/2 U.S. leader 400H - 48.37 James Carter (Unat.) - New York City, NY 6/2 HJ - 2.20/7-2.5 Adam Shunk (Indiana Invaders) & Jamie Nieto (Nike) - Provo, UT 6/2 PV - 5.60/18-4.5 Jeff Hartwig (Nike) & Russ Buller (Asics) - New York City, NY 6/2 LJ - 8.04/26-4.5 Joe Allen (Sprint Mgmt.) - Provo, UT 6/1 TJ - 16.80/55-1.5 Rafeeq Curry (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/1 SP - 19.41/63-8.25 Zack Lloyd (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/2 DT - 66.84/219-3 Jarred Rome (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 HT - 76.94/252-5 A.G. Kruger (Nike) - Provo, UT 6/1 U.S. leader JT - 77.12/253-0 Leigh Smith (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/1 Dec - 7584 Ryan Olkowski (Unat.) - Dallas, TX 6/3 WOMEN 100 - 10.95 Torri Edwards (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 200 - 22.31 Rachelle Smith (US Elite) - New York City, NY 6/2 400 - 50.53 Allyson Felix (adidas) - New York City, NY 6/2 800 - 1:59.07 Hazel Clark (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 U.S. leader 1500 - 4:08.07 Shayne Culpepper (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 3000SC - 9:45.67 Carrie Messner-Vickers (Asics) - Eagle Rock, CA 6/3 5000 - 15:38.94 Lauren Fleshman (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2 100H - 12.45 Ginnie Powell (Nike) - New York City, NY 6/2World leader 400H - 55.48 Sandra Glover (Nike) - Dessau, GER 6/1 HJ - 1.90/6-2.75 Amy Acuff (Asics) & Erin Aldrich (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/2 PV - 4.88/16-0 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - New York City, NY 6/2 American Record; World Leader LJ - 6.52/21-4.75 Kiamesha Otey (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/2 TJ - 14.02/46-0 Shani Marks (Unat.) - Provo, UT 6/2 SP - 18.36/60-3 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Provo, UT 6/2 DT -62.48/205-0 Becky Breisch (HPTC) - Belgrade, SRB 5/29 HT - 70.33/230-9 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Provo, UT 6/2 JT - 59.03/193-8 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Provo, UT 6/2