Richards named Athlete of the Week
Posted Wednesday, 20 September, 2006
Contact:
Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
317-261-0500
INDIANAPOLIS - Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after breaking the American record in winning the women's 400 meters Saturday and coming back to win the women's 200 meters Sunday at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in Athens, Greece.
The 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist, Richards crushed the American record in the women's 400 meters with her time of time of 48.70 seconds, which obliterated Valerie Brisco's previous American record of 48.83, set at the 1984 Olympic Games. Her winning time put her #7 on the all-time world list. Richards then took the women's 200 meters easily on Sunday, using a strong stretch run to post a time of 22.23. For her efforts, Richards not only increased her lead at the top of the 400m Event Rankings, but also rose to the top of the IAAF Women's Overall Rankings replacing Meseret Defar (ETH).
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.
2006 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 3, Walt Henning; January 10, Amandi Rhett; January 17, Kevin Eastler; January 24, Marisa Hanson; January 31, Me'Lisa Barber; February 7, Reese Hoffa; February 14, Wallace Spearmon; February 21, Ryan Hall; February 28, Terrence Trammell; March 7, Ryan Harlan; March 14, Walter Davis; March 21, Bill Collins; March 28, Johnnye Valien; April 4, Deena Kastor; April 11, Trey Hardee; April 18, Meb Keflezighi; April 25, Deena Kastor; May 2, Alan Webb; May 9, Bershawn Jackson; May 16, Justin Gatlin; May 23, Kim Kreiner; May 30, Bryan Clay; June 6, Sanya Richards; June 13, Xavier Carter; June 20, A.J. Acosta; June 27, Lashinda Demus; July 5, Ebony Collins; July 11, Jeremy Wariner; July 18, Dominique Arnold; August 1, William Wynne; August 8, Nadine O'Connor; August 15, Walter Henning; August 22, Chris Carter; August 29, Khadevis Robinson; September 5, Sanya Richards; September 12, Tyson Gay; September 19, Sanya Richards.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 17
MEN
100 - 9.88 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Athens, GRE 9/16
200 - 19.87 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
400 - 44.54 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
800 - 1:46.45 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
1500 - 3:55.09 Gabe Jennings (Saucony) - Athens, GRE 9/16
3000 - 7:48.15 Adam Goucher (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
3000SC - 8:43.15 Steve Slattery (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
5000 - 13:36.83 Matt Tegenkamp (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
110H - 12.96 Allen Johnson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
400H - 48.12 Kerron Clement (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
HJ - 2.24/7-4.25 Tora Harris (Shore AC) - Athens, GRE 9/16
PV - 5.50/18-0.5 Russ Buller (Asics) - Athens, GRE 9/17
LJ - 7.88/25-10.25 Brian Johnson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
TJ - 17.54/57-6.5 Walter Davis (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
SP - 20.60/67-7 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Athens, GRE 9/16
DT - 62.12/203-10 Ian Waltz (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
HT - 75.53/247-9 A.G. Kruger (Ashland Elite) - Athens, GRE 9/16
JT - 73.40/240-10 Rob Minnitti (Unat.) - Athens, GRE 9/17
Dec - 8022 Ryan Harlan (Unat.) - Talence, FRA 9/17
WOMEN
100 - 11.19 Torri Edwards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
200 - 22.23 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
400 - 48.70 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16 American Record
800 - 2:01.83 Hazel Clark (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
1500 - 4:13.55 Treniere Clement (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
3000 - 8:41.42 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
3000SC - 9:49.32 Lisa Galaviz (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
5000 - 15:17.65 Lauren Fleshman (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
100H - 12.90 Ginnie Powell (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17
400H - 54.06 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
HJ - 1.94/6-4.25 Amy Acuff (Asics) - Athens, GRE 9/17
LJ - 6.39/20-11.75 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Talence, FRA 9/17
TJ - 13.79/45-3 Shani Marks (Unat.) - Athens, GRE 9/16
SP - 18.43/60-5.75 Jillian Camarena (Ironwood) - Athens, GRE 9/17
DT - 61.83/202-10 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
HT - 67.39/221-1 Erin Gilreath (NYAC) - Athens, GRE 9/17
JT - 54.34/178-3 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16
Hep - 5906 GiGi Johnson (Unat.) - Talence, FRA 9/17