Franek Named USATF Athlete Of The Week

2012 Olympian betters 2000m steeplechase mark by over a second.

She’s the queen of the steeplechase, and now the United States Track and Field Association (USATF) has named Bridget Franek its athlete of the week.

Franek earned the honor by setting the new American record in the women’s 2000m steeplechase at the Oregon Preview Meet in Eugene last weekend. She clocked in at 6:19.09, which lowered the previous mark of 6:20.66 set by Carrie Messner in 2007 by more than 1.5 seconds.

“The announcement was made on the loudspeaker that it was an American record, and it was hard to believe,” Franek said. “It was hard to absorb and appreciate in the moment.”

In the record-setting race, Franek set a personal best by 19 seconds. She won the race by over a minute.

“I felt good about opening up the season with that fast of time,” Franek told USATF. “I expected this type of result because it was the first event of the season.”

Franek is a 2010 graduate of Penn State University.

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