Patton Named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week

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INDIANAPOLIS - Darvis “Doc” Patton (Dallas, Texas) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 100m dash and running the anchor leg on the winning 4x100m relay at the 86th Texas Relays in Austin, Texas this weekend.


Patton took advantage of a strong tailwind of 4.3 meters per second to run the fastest time in the world this year as he clocked 9.75 in the 100m. Patton’s time makes him the sixth fastest man in history under all conditions.

“I’m almost at a loss for words, to be honest,” Patton said. “I knew I would be able to run fast based on my indoor season, even though I only ran one race. Going through the 60m indoor race I knew I was accelerating, so I was pretty anxious to run the 100m race outdoors.”

Patton also ran the anchor leg for the Stratton Sprint group, helping them to a win in the 4x100m relay, posting a mark of 38.36. Patton was joined by Wallace Spearmon, Maurice Mitchell and Jared Connaughton to set the fastest time in the world this year.

“We all train together, so we wanted to go down to the Texas Relays and have a little fun,” Patton said. "I said, ‘Let me run anchor. Let’s do something crazy.’ We put Wallace [Spearmon] to run first. We got the stick around -- thankfully -- and ended up running a world leader.”

Patton, 35, has enjoyed a career as an elite athlete for 13 years. This is the first time the two-time Olympic relay silver medalist and two-time world outdoor relay champion has been selected as the USATF’s Athlete of the Week.

“I was excited. I guess there is a first time everything. Better late than never,” Patton said laughing. “I can finally say I got [the athlete of the week award] under my belt.”

Now in its 12th 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 www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2013 Winners: January 9, Bobby Mack; January 16, Mary Cain; January 22, Ajeé Wilson; January 30, Duane Solomon; February 6, Chris Derrick; February 13, Jeremy Taiwo; February 20, Alysia Montaño; February 27, Galen Rupp; March 6, Jenn Suhr; March 13, Tia Brooks; March 20, Bridget Franek; March 27, Ben True; April 3, Darvis “Doc” Patton

WEEK IN REVIEW - MARCH 25-31
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

Three of the biggest traditional early-season meets provided a host of primo performances, led by the 86th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. Here's a look at the action from Austin, Stanford and Raleigh:

TEXAS RELAYS

Ageless Doc Patton was the brightest star of the week at the 86th edition of the Relays, earning Athlete of the Week honors (see above), but his sizzling 100m wasn't the only highlight.

Mississippi's Sam Kendricks joined the 19-foot club in the pole vault, clearing 5.81m/19-0.75 to top a field that included nine men over 18-0. Jake Blankenship of Tennessee moved to No. 4 on the all-time U.S. junior list with his 5.61m/18-4.75in in fourth.

Texas A&M swept the 4x100m relays, running a world-leading 42.56 in the women's race and 38.64 in the men's. The Aggies also captured the men's 4x200m in a world-leading 1:20.78 and Ameer Webb ripped to a world-leading 10.14 in the 100m.

Curtis Beach topped 8000 points to win the decathlon with 8011, and Brianna Rollins of Clemson rode a barely-illegal 2.1 wind to a 12.54 in the 100mH. Amanda Bingson, the 2012 Olympic Trials runner-up, had a lifetime best 72.16m/236-9 to win the hammer. 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams was also the beneficiary of a too-helpful wind in the 100m, where she clocked 11.02, the fastest all-conditions time in the world in 2013.

High school fireworks came from Cameron Burrell of Missouri City Ridge Point, who stunned the capacity crowd with a 10.07 100m, aided by a hefty 3.2 wind. The son of former 100m World Record holder Leroy Burrell and former Florida State star Michelle Finn moved to fourth on the all-conditions all-time prep performer list. Colorado's Valarie Allman (Longmont Silver Creek HS) became the No. 9 all-time U.S. junior women's discus thrower with a 56.14m/184-2in toss.

STANFORD INVITATIONAL

Always a distance wonderland, The Farm didn't disappoint. American record holder and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan raced to a 31:04.85 world lead to take the women's 10,000m, with Kara Goucher narrowly missing the World A standard with her 31:46.64 in second. Oregon's Jordan Hasay debuted in third at 32:46.68.

Olympic Trials ninth-placer Alisha Williams lopped 15 seconds off her personal record to win the 5000m in 15:09.73, a world leader, while NAIA cross country champ John Gilbertson of The Master's College debuted with a world-leading 28:30.35 to win the 10,000m.

Former Dartmouth and Oregon star Alexi Pappas turned in a world leader in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, slashing nine seconds off her personal record with a 9:46.73.

Decathlon Olympic champion Ashton Eaton set a personal record in the shot put with a 15.40m/50-6.25 throw, and added a 10.33 in the 100m.

RALEIGH RELAYS

Michigan's women grabbed golds in the 4x800m (8:33.54) and 4x1500m (17:44.57) with World Leaders. North Carolina prep Wesley Frazier moved to No. 8 on the all-time girls' 3200m list with a 9:57.70.



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