Posted: August 29, 2007

Athletics: Gay named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning men's 100 meters Sunday night at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan. The 2007 U.S. 100 and 200 meter champion, Gay won the men's 100m convincingly in 9.85 seconds (-0.5 mps wind). After a solid start, with the third-fastest reaction time of the field, Gay was virtually even with world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica. But it was the second half of Gay's 100m that was most impressive, and when he moved ahead at 60 meters, the race was as good as over. It was the third-fastest winning time in the history of the World Championships. Other top performers include Reese Hoffa and Adam Nelson, who tallied Team USA's first medals of the 2007 World Outdoor Championships Saturday night, winning gold and silver, respectively, in the men's shot put. Hoffa uncorked a heave of 22.04m/72-3.75 in round 3 for the win. Nelson - the reigning gold medalist - threw 21.61m/70-10.75 in the second round to win the silver. With silver medals in 2001, 2003 and 2007, and a gold in 2005, Nelson's four World Outdoor Championships medals now make him the most-decorated men's shot putter in World Outdoor history. He is the only American athlete in any event to medal in every World Outdoor and Olympic competition since 2000. On the track, Kara Goucher made history in the final race of the night by winning the first American medal ever in the women's 10,000 meters. Goucher took the bronze in a season-best time of 32:02.05. 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; June 12, Walter Dix; June 19, Chanelle Price; June 27, Tyson Gay; July 3, Jim Sorensen; July 10, Robin Reynolds; July 17, William Wynne; July 24, Alan Webb; July 31, Victoria Jordan; August 8, Reese Hoffa; August 14, Jeremy Wariner; August 21, Lela Nelson; August 28, Tyson Gay. BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26 MEN 100 - 9.85 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 400 - 45.32 Jamaal Torrence (Executive TC) - Osaka, JPN 8/23 1500 - 3:40.73 Alan Webb (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 3000SC - 8:30.86 Aaron Aguayo (Unat.) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 20k Walk - 1:28:29 Kevin Eastler (USAF) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 400H - 48.30 James Carter (Unat.) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 TJ - 17.10/56-1.25 Walter Davis (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 SP - 22.04/72-3.75 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 DT - 62.67/205-7 Ian Waltz (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 HT - 73.19/240-1 A.G. Kruger (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 WOMEN 100 - 11.07 Carmelita Jeter (Nike/South Bay TC) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 400 - 51.07 Natasha Hastings (Reebok) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 800 - 2:00.61 Hazel Clark (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 3000SC - 9:48.62 Anna Willard (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 10,000 - 32:02.05 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/25 PV - 4.55/14-11 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 SP - 17.40/57-1 Kristin Heaston (Nike) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 Hept - 5838 Diana Pickler (Unat.) - Osaka, JPN 8/26 Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest