Nelson named Athlete of the Week – USATF’s Athlete of the Week program

INDIANAPOLIS – Adam Nelson has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Weekafter winning the Visa men's shot put Friday night at the 2008 Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

The most decorated shot putter in World Outdoor Championships history, Nelson's world-leading throw of 22.40 meters/73 feet 6 inches easily won the Visa men's shot put. It is the third-best performance of all time in the shot. For his efforts, the two-time Olympic silver medalist also was named the Team USA Athlete of the Meet, presented by Visa.

Another notable performance came from two-time World Outdoor medalist Wallace Spearmon, who won the Tyson Foods men's 200m in a world-leading 20.19 seconds.

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.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 17

MEN

60 – 6.57 Mike Rodgers (unat) – Birmingham, GBR 2/16 U.S. leader

200 – 20.19 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 World leader

400 – 46.38 Justin Gaymon (Georgia) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15

46.13 OT Miles Smith (SE Missouri) – Ames, IA 2/16

800 – 1:47.89 Jacob Hernandez (Texas) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 U.S. leader

1500 – 3:35.23 Bernard Lagat (Nike) – Birmingham, GBR 2/16

Mile – 3:57.81 Steve Sherer (unat) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15

3000 – 7:51.20 OT Kyle Perry (BYU) – Seattle, WA 2/16

5000 – 13:47.57 Lex Williams (Michigan) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15

60H – 7.55 David Oliver (Nike) – Birmingham, GBR 2/16

5k Walk – 20:49.82 Matt Boyles (Miami Valley TC) – Ada, OH 2/17

HJ – 2.27/7-5.25 Jamie Nieto (Nike) – Brno, CZE 2/12

PV – 5.65/18-6.5 Tommy Skipper (Nike) – Stockton, CA 2/16

LJ – 7.80/25-7.25 Matt Turner (Arizona State) – Ames, IA 2/15

TJ – 16.48/54-1 Shardae Boutte (Oklahoma) – Fayetteville, AR 2/16

SP – 22.40/73-6 Adam Nelson (unat) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 World leader

WT – 23.79/78-0.75 Kibwe Johnson (NYAC) – Findlay, OH 2/15

Hept – 6192 Bryan Clay (Nike) – Ames, IA 2/15 U.S. leader

WOMEN

60 – 7.13 Angela Williams (Nike) – Athens, GRE 2/13 U.S. leader

200 – 23.07 Bianca Knight (Texas) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 U.S. leader

400 – 52.34 Monica Hargrove (Unat.) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15

800 – 2:03.11 Nicole Cook (Reebok) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 U.S. leader

Mile- 4:27.18 Christin Wurth-Thomas (Nike) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 U.S. leader

3000 – 8:57.83 Kara Goucher (Nike) – Birmingham, ENG 2/16

5000 – 15:52.37 OT Lisa Koll (Iowa State) – Ames, IA 2/15

60H – 7.94 Damu Cherry (Nike) – Athens, GRE 2/13

3k Walk – 15:10.60 Susan Randall (Miami Valley TC) – Ada, OH 2/17

HJ – 1.85/6-0.75 Beth Castagno (Shore AC) – Ames, IA 2/16

PV – 4.64/15-2.75 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas), Jillian Schwartz (Nike) & Lacy Janson (Nike) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15

LJ – 6.81/22-4.25 Brittney Reese (Ole Miss) – Fayetteville, AR 2/15 U.S. leader

TJ – 13.57/44-6.25 Tiombe Hurd (Nike) – Fayetteville, AR 2/16

SP – 17.78/58-4 Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) – Ames, IA 2/16

WT – 23.68/77-8.25 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) – Chapel Hill, NC 2/16

Pent – 4087 Lauren Collins (Cal-Irvine) – Ames, IA 2/14

Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
Vicky.Oddi@usatf.org