Crouser named Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - 2009 World Youth Champion Ryan Crouser has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week based on his shattering of the prep indoor record not once, but twice at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday.
Competing in the 12-pound shot, Crouser, bested Brent Noon's 21-year-old record of 22.83m/74-11 three times. Crouser's series for the day was: 21.95m/72-0.5, 22.95m/75-3.5, foul, foul, 23.54m/77-2.75, 23.15m/75-11.5. Crouser's best throw of 23.54/77-2.75 bested the previous record by more than two feet, and is second on the all-time list.

"It was really exciting for me to get the record, there were great fans and officials at the Simplot meet, and it made it an awesome experience," Crouser said. "I was really happy with my performances and exceeded my goal of 75'."

"Winning the USATF athlete of the week is a great honor and it means a lot to me, when there are so many great athletes in the sport throughout the country." said the senior from Barlow (Ore.) High School."

Now in its tenth 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 5, Bill Tribou; January 12, Tyler Sorensen; January 20, Josh Cox; January 26, Ben Shorey; February 2, Ashton Eaton; February 9, Ashton Eaton; February 16, Bernard Lagat; February 23, Ryan Crouser

WEEK IN REVIEW: February 15-20
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

RODGERS TIES WORLD LEAD IN BIRMINGHAM 60

In his final tune-up before defending his U.S. title at Albuquerque this weekend, Mike Rodgers dashed to a 6.50 at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix in England to win and equal the world lead in the men's 60 meter.

Bianca Knight also claimed the world's best mark of 2011 in the women's 200m, zipping to a 22.89, while Russell Brown and Morgan Uceny recorded U.S.-leading marks. Brown finished sixth in the men's 1500m at 3:38.17, and Uceny became the first American woman under 2:00 this season for the 800m with her 1:59.97 to take second.

MILES STAYS HOME, VAULTS TO U.S. LEAD

Enjoying competing at the facility with which he is most familiar, Derek Miles pole vaulted to a U.S.-leading 5.65 meters/18-6.5 at the South Dakota Twilight in Vermillion.

About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track & field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track & Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.