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INDIANAPOLIS - Bryan Clay has been named USATF's Athlete of the Week after winning the men's heptathlon at the 2008 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Clay dominated from the opening event and never relinquished his lead throughout the 7-event competition, ending Day 1 with a commanding 174 point lead over the rest of the field. Over the final three events of the competition on Sunday, Clay dusted the field in the 60m hurdles in 7.86 seconds (1,017 pts), cleared 5.00 meters/16 feet 4.75 inches in the pole vault (910 pts.) and ran 2 minutes 55.64 seconds in the 1,000m (708 pts). Clay claimed his first World Indoor title with a world-leading personal best of 6,371 points, which is the second-best ever by an American, and makes him the #8 performer all-time.
Also posting world-leading mark in Valencia was Angela Williams, who won the women's 60m in 7.06 seconds. On the roads, Deena Kastor won her sixth career national title at the 15 km distance, with Andrew Carlson winning the men's title. Also winning national titles over the weekend were Jake Arnold and Diana Pickler at the USA Indoor Combined Events Championships.
Now in its seventh 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.
2008 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 8, Cheryl Foody; January 16, Nick Vena; January 22, Chanelle Price; January 29, Antwon Hicks; February 5, Adam Nelson; February 12, Lolo Jones; February 19, Adam Nelson; February 27, Michael Rodgers; March 3, Thomas Morgan.
Best Marks Week Ending March 9
MEN
60 - 6.54 Mike Rodgers (Unat.) - Valencia, ESP 3/7 =U.S. leader
200 - 20.82 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Blacksburg, VA 3/8
400 - 46.53 OT Mitch Potter (Unat.) - Ames, IA 3/8
& Michael Cooley (Alabama - Notre Dame, IN 3/8
800 - 1:46.48 Nick Symmonds (Oregon TC) - Valencia, ESP 3/9 U.S. leader
1500 - 3:41.73 Rob Myers (Reebok) - Valencia, ESP 3/7
Mile - 3:58.52 OT AJ Acosta (Oregon) - Seattle, WA 3/8
3000 - 7:59.22 Jonathon Riley (Nike) - Valencia, ESP3/7
5000 - 13:49.88 Michael Kilburg (Portland) - Seattle, WA 3/8
3k Walk - 12:41.18 Chris Tegtmeier (Concordia) - Johnson City, TN 3/8
60H - 7.55 Allen Johnson (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/8
HJ - 2.30/7-6.5 Andra Manson (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/8
PV - 5.85/19-2.25 Brad Walker (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/9 U.S. leader
LJ - 7.93/26-0.25 Dexter Adams (North Carolina State) - Blacksburg, VA 3/8
TJ - 17.13/56-2.5 Aarik Wilson (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/7
SP - 21.77/71-5.25 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/7
WT - 20.77/68-1.75 Tyler Dailey (Missouri) - Ames, IA 3/8
Hept - 6371 Bryan Clay (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/9World leader
WOMEN
60 - 7.06 Angela Williams (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/7World leader
200 - 23.62 Britni Spruill (Virginia Tech) - Blacksburg, VA 3/8
400 - 51.41 Shareese Woods (Charisma) - Valencia, ESP 3/9 U.S. leader
800 - 2:01.73 Nicole Teter (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/7 U.S. leader
1500 - 4:10.56 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) - Valencia, ESP 3/8 U.S. leader
Mile - 4:39.07 Dacia Barr (Arkansas) - Notre Dame, IN 3/8
3000 - 9:03.66 Jen Rhines (adidas) - Valencia, ESP 3/7
60H - 7.80 Lolo Jones (Asics) - Valencia, ESP 3/8
HJ - 1.95/6-4.75 Amy Acuff (Asics) - Valencia, ESP 3/9= U.S. leader
PV - 4.75/15-7 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - Valencia, ESP 3/8 U.S. leader
LJ - 6.36/20-10.5 Kathryn Coleman (LSU) - Baton Rouge, LA 3/7
TJ - 13.38/43-10.75 Tiombe Hurd (Nike) - Blacksburg, VA 3/8
SP - 17.79/58-4.5 Abigail Ruston (Unat.) - Valencia, ESP 3/8
WT - 20.75/68-1 Astin Steward (Purdue) - Ames, IA 3/8
Pentathlon - 4378 Diana Picker (Asics) - Chapel Hill, N.C.
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