Culpepper named Athlete of the Week
By Tom Surber, USATF
Posted Tuesday, 13 February, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS - Alan Culpepper has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the men's 12 km race at the 2007 USA Cross Country Championships in Boulder, Colo.
In his first cross country race since 2003, Culpepper came back from a 15-second deficit to win his third U.S. cross country title in 37 minutes, 9 seconds. The 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials champion, Culpepper began a push heading into the final four kilometers that would take him past multiple U.S. cross country champion Adam Goucher and 2005 champion Dathan Ritzenhein. By the 9 km mark Culpepper had the lead for good and from there was able to enjoy winning the title in his hometown. Deena Kastor won the women's race.
Other notable performances include world-leading indoor track performances by LaShawn Merritt in the men's 400 meters (45.51) and Shalonda Solomon in the women's 200 (22.85), both run at the Tyson Invitational, part of the Visa Championship Series. For his performance, Merritt was the Visa Team USA Athlete of the Meet. Also at Tyson, Allyson Felix broke the American record in the women's 300 (36.33).
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.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING FEB. 11
MEN
60 - 6.46 Marcus Brunson (Nike) - Karlsruhe, GER 2/11 U.S. leader
200 - 20.73 Walter Dix (Florida State) - Fayetteville, AR 2/10
400 - 45.51 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9World leader
800 - 1:48.46 (ot) Paul Harris (Miami) - Ames, IA 2/10
Mile - 3:59.29 (ot) Russell Brown (Stanford) - Seattle, WA 2/10
3000 - 7:40.25 Matt Tegenkamp (Nike) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9 U.S. leader
5000 - 13:30.74 (ot) Chris Solinsky (Wisconsin) - Seattle, WA 2/10 U.S. leader
13:44.84 Kyle King (ZAP Fitness) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9
60H - 7.53 Ron Bramlett (Nike) - Karlsruhe, GER 2/11 U.S. leader
HJ - 2.33/7-7.75 Andra Manson (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 2/10 U.S. leader
PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Brad Walker (Nike) - Donetsk, UKR 2/10
LJ - 7.89/25-10.75 Tony Belt (Louisville) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9
TJ - 16.90/55-5.5 Aarik Wilson (Unat.) - Karlsruhe, GER 2/11
SP - 21.32/69-11.5 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Valencia, ESP 2/10
WT - 24.34/79-10.25 Kibwe Johnson (Ashland) - Findlay, OH 2/9
Hept - 5575 Joe Cebulski (Unat.) - Ames, IA 2/9
WOMEN
60 - 7.21 Courtney Champion (Tennessee) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9
200 - 22.85 Shalonda Solomon (South Carolina) - Fayetteville, AR 2/10World leader
300 - 36.33 Allyson Felix (adidas) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9 AMERICAN RECORD
400 - 52.50 Shana Cox (Penn State) - University Park, PA 2/10
800 - 2:03.63 Sasha Spencer (Nike) - Leipzig, GER 2/9 U.S. leader
Mile - 4:33.43 Sarah Schwald (Fila) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9
3000 - 9:15.52 Liz Wort (Duke) - Fayetteville, AR 2/10
5000 - 15:30.17 (ot)Amy Hastings (Arizona State) - Seattle, WA 2/10 U.S. leader
60H - 7.87 Lolo Jones (Nike) - Karlsruhe, GER 2/11
HJ - 1.96/6-5 Destinee Hooker (Texas) - Fayetteville, AR 2/10 U.S. leader
PV - 4.72/15-5.75 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9 U.S. leader
LJ - 6.21/20-4.5 Lauryn Jordan (Oregon) - Fayetteville, AR 2/9
TJ - 13.26/43-6 Sherita Williams (GBTC) - Boston, MA 2/10
SP - 18.28/59-11.75 Jill Camarena (NYAC) - Albuquerque, NM 2/10
WT - 24.19/79-4.5 Brittany Riley (Southern Illinois) - Ames, IA 2/9
Pent - 4033 Gayle Hunter (Penn State) - University Park, PA 2/9
Contact:
Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
317-713-4690
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