INDIANAPOLIS - Stephanie Brown Trafton has been named USATF's Athlete of
the Week after winning the gold medal in the women's discus throw at the
2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
On her first attempt in the final in Beijing, Brown Trafton threw the
discus 64.74 meters/212 feet 5 inches, less than five feet off her
personal best. During the remainder of the competition the other
competitors tried and failed to better Brown Trafton's first attempt,
but by the time she entered the ring for her final throw, the gold medal
was hers.
Brown Trafton won the United States' first gold medal in the women's
discus since Lillian Copeland in 1932, and the first medal of any kind
since Leslie Jean Deniz won silver in the boycott-afflicted 1984 Olympic
Games in Los Angeles. It was a significant personal victory for the
6-foot-4, 28-year-old Brown, who has never finished higher than second
at a U.S. national championship.
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; March 11,
Bryan Clay; March 18, Bianca Knight; March 25, Phil Raschker; April 1,
Orville Rogers; April 8, Lisa Koll; April 15, Ryan Hall, April 22, Deena
Kastor; April 29, Leo Manzano; May 6, Shalane Flanagan; May 13, Bonnie
Richardson; May 20, Jenn Stuczynski; May 27, Chanelle Price; June 3,
German Fernandez; June 10, Brad Walker; June 18, Jenny Barringer; July
11, Jenn Stuczynski; July 16, Walter Henning; July 23, Jenny Barringer;
July 29 Phyllis Francis; August 13, Franklin "Bud" Held; August 20,
Stephanie Brown Trafton.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING AUGUST 17
MEN
100 - 9.91 Walter Dix (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/16
1500 - 3:36.67 Leonel Manzano (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/15
3000SC - 8:17.34 Anthony Famiglietti (adidas) - Beijing, CHN 8/16 U.S.
leader
10,000 - 27:36.99 Galen Rupp (unat) - Beijing, CHN 8/17
400H - 47.94 Angelo Taylor (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/16
HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Andra Manson (Nike) & Jesse Williams (Nike) - Beijing,
CHN 8/17LJ - 7.87/25-10 Trevell Quinley (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/16SP -
21.09/69-2.5 Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/15DT -
61.64/202-3 Michael Robertson (unat) - Beijing, CHN 8/16HT - 71.21/233-7
A.G. Kruger (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/1520k Walk - 1:28:44 Kevin Eastler
(USAF) - Beijing, CHN 8/16
WOMEN
100 - 11.03 Lauryn Williams (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/17400 - 49.90 Sanya
Richards (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/17800 - 2:01.59 Hazel Clark (Nike) -
Beijing, CHN 8/153000SC - 9:22.26 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Beijing,
CHN 8/17 AMERICAN RECORD10,000 - 30:22.22 Shalane Flanagan (Nike) -
Beijing, CHN 8/15 AMERICAN RECORDMara - 2:33:13 Blake Russell (Reebok) -
Beijing, CHN 8/17100H - 12.71 Lolo Jones (Asics) - Beijing, CHN 8/17400H
- 55.51 Tiffany Williams (Reebok) - Beijing, CHN 8/17PV - 4.50/14-9 Jenn
Stuczynski (adidas) & April Steiner Bennett (adidas) - Beijing, CHN
8/16TJ - 13.52/44-4.25 Erica McLain (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/15SP -
18.51/60-8.75 Jillian Camarena (NYAC) - Beijing, CHN 8/16DT -
62.77/205-11 Stephanie Brown Trafton (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/15Hept -
6619 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Beijing, CHN 8/16
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