Lagat Named USATF Athlete Of The Week
Thanks to his second consecutive record setting performance, Bernard Lagat was named the USATF Athlete of the Week. Lagat set a new American record for 5000m at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. His time of 13:11.50 broke the previous record of 13:18.12 set by Galen Rupp in 2009. Lagat was named Athlete of the Week the week before after his record eighth Wannamaker Mile victory at the Milrose Games.
Below is the full release regarding the award and recap of the week:
INDIANAPOLIS – Bernard Lagathas been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row after setting the 5,000m American indoor record Saturday night at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston.
A two-time Olympic medalist and the 2007 double world champion, Lagat shattered the American indoor record in the 5,000 meters by almost seven seconds when he won in 13:11.50. The previous record of 13:18.12 was held by 2008 Olympian and six-time NCAA champion Galen Rupp, who finished fourth to Lagat in 13:14.21.
Elsewhere, 2009 World Youth and Pan Am Junior team member Trevor Barron of Bethal Park, Pa., won the men’s 20 km Open and USATF 20 km Western Regional Race Walk Championship Sunday in 1:31:51. Barron’s performance shattered his own American Junior record of 1:37:49 set at last year’s USA 50 km Championships in Santee, Calif.
Now in its ninth 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.
Winners: January 13, Jen Clayton; January 20, Shalane Flanagan; January 27, Nolan Shaheed; February 3, Bernard Lagat; February 10, Bernard Lagat.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 7
MEN
60 – 6.51 Ivory Williams (unattached) – Boston, MA 2/6 World leader
200 – 20.80 Torrin Lawrence (Georgia) – Blacksburg, VA 2/6
400 – 46.36 Clayton Parros (North Carolina) – New York, NY 2/6
800 – 1:48.60ot Jack Howard (Notre Dame) – Notre Dame, IN 2/6
1500 – 3:40.31er Will Leer (Oregon TC) – Boston, MA 2/6
Mile – 3:55.66 Will Leer (Oregon TC) – Boston, MA 2/6
3000 – 8:01.91ot Lex Williams (unattached) – Notre Dame, IN 2/6
5000 – 13:11.50 Bernard Lagat (Nike) – Boston, MA 2/6 AMERICAN RECORD
60H – 7.49 David Oliver (Nike) – Stuttgart, GER 2/6 & Terrence Trammell (Trackstar Apparel) – Boston, MA 2/6
HJ – 2.25/7-4.5 Keith Moffatt (Nike) – Nashville, TN 2/6 & Dusty Jonas (Nike) – Moscow, RUS 2/7
PV – 5.67/18-7.25 Jason Colwick (Rice) – Lincoln, NE 2/6
LJ – 8.00/26-3 Zedric Thomas (LSU) – New York, NY 2/5
TJ – 16.55/54-3.75 Zuheir Sharif (Texas A&M) – New York, NY 2/6
SP – 21.24/69-8.25 Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) – Albuquerque, NM 2/6
WT – 24.15/79-2.75 A.G. Kruger (Nike) – Findlay, OH 2/5 World leader
Hept – 5743 Jake Arnold (Asics) – Albuquerque, NM 2/6
WOMEN
60 – 7.05 Carmelita Jeter (Nike) – Stuttgart, GER 2/6
200 – 23.44 Jeneba Tarmoh (Texas A&M) – New York, NY 2/6
400 – 52.53 Debbie Dunn (Nike) – Moscow, RUS 2/7
800 – 2:04.32ot Shannon Leinert (Missouri) – Notre Dame, IN 2/6
Mile – 4:35.97 Nicole Schappert (Villanova) – New York, NY 2/6
3000 – 8:47.18 Shannon Rowbury (Nike) – Boston, MA 2/6
5000 – 16:13.01 Neely Spence (Shippensburg) – New York, NY 2/5
60H – 7.85 Lolo Jones (Asics) – Dusseldorf, GER 2/3
HJ – 1.96/6-5 Chaunte Howard-Lowe (Nike) – Arnstadt, GER 2/6
PV – 4.55/14-11 Chelsea Johnson (Nike) – Boston, MA 2/6
LJ – 6.67/21-10.75 Funmi Jimoh (Nike) – Linz, AUT 2/4
TJ – 13.76/45-1.75 Shakeema Welsch (unattached) – Albuquerque, NM 2/6
SP – 18.27/59-11.25 Jill Camarena-Williams (NYAC) – New York, NY 2/5
WT – 22.36/73-4.5 D’Ana McCarty (Louisville) – Notre Dame, IN 2/5
Pent – 4136 Chelsea Carrier (West Virginia) – State College, PA 2/5
Source: USATF.org