Lashinda Demus overcame a 3.3 mps headwind to run 13.17 and win the San Diego State Aztec Invitational.

Flanagan named Athlete of the Week

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INDIANAPOLIS – Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after she won the individual bronze medal and led the US women to a team bronze as well at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Saturday in Punta Umbria, Spain.

In the 8 km race, Flanagan maintained her position in the top-ten during the first 6 km of the race. Then as a testament to her track speed she unleashed a fast finish, passing four of her competitors over the last 2 km to claim her spot on the podium, finishing in 25:10

“I was so pleased to be in medal position. It was a lot of fun today,” Flanagan said after the race. “I love the fact that this is a team sport, and there is a great team dynamic going with all of the ladies.”

Flangan’s performance not only led the way for Team USA’s bronze medal, but also inspired her teammates as well.

“I think this experience makes me want it more,” said teammate Alissa McKaig. ”How can you not be inspired after watching Shalane get third?”

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; March 2, Jillian Camarena-Williams; March 10, Bill Collins; March 16, Miles Batty; March 23, Shalane Flanagan

WEEK IN REVIEW - MARCH 14-20
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

TEAM USA STARS SHAKE OFF RUST, OPEN OUTDOORS IN EARNEST

After a long winter indoors, and with sights firmly set on Daegu and the IAAF World Championships, some of Team USA's brightest stars opened their outdoor campaigns both in the U.S. and overseas.

Sanya Richards-Ross, the 2009 Jesse Owens Award winner and world champion at 400 meters, kicked off '11 with a swift 200m at the TCU Invitational in Fort Worth, zipping to a 23.06. At the same meet, multiple Olympic and World 400 medalist Jeremy Wariner clocked 20.71 in the 200m.

Heptathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton, the 2010 NCAA decathlon champion, stayed in Eugene for the Oregon Preview and picked up a personal best 56.59m/185-3 in the javelin on his only attempt.

Running Down Under at the Sydney Classic, two-time Olympic 400m hurdle champion Angelo Taylor stuck with the flat sprints, nabbing a pair of wins in the 200m (20.71) and 400m (45.71).

Three-time World Championships 100 hurdler Ginnie Crawford also opened up on the flat with an 11.60 in the 100 at the USC Trojan Invitational.

She hadn't run the 100 hurdles in six years, but two-time World Championships 400H silver medalist Lashinda Demus overcame a 3.3 mps headwind to run 13.17 and win the San Diego State Aztec Invitational.

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.