Gay named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS – Following his world-leading performance in the 100-meters at the Jamaica Kingston IWC meet Sunday, Tyson Gay has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week.

The American record holder in the event, Gay crossed the finish line in 9.86 seconds, which is currently the fastest time in the world this season by .15 seconds. Behind a legal +0.2 wind, Gay pulled away from a field that included Darvis Patton and Jamaica’s Nesta Carter.

"I was pleased with my first 100m of the season in Jamaica,” Gay said. “I've still got a lot of work ahead of me but my main goal is to focus on staying healthy so that I give myself a chance to PR this season. I'm already looking forward to the adidas Grand Prix Diamond League in New York City."

Owner of the top five times in American history, the performance for Gay run on May 5 marks the earliest point in the season he has run under 10-seconds in the event in his career.

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; April 10, Octavious Freeman; April 24, Erik Kynard; May 1, Queen Harrison; May 8, Tyson Gay

Week in Review
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

JAMAICA BRINGS OUT STARS IN FORCE
Besides the sizzling 100 by American record-holder from USATF Athlete of the Week Tyson Gay, the Kingston IWC meet produced two world-leading marks in the hurdles and an outdoor WL by Ryan Whiting in the men's shot put.

Antwon Hicks, the 2002 World Junior champion, edged Olympic bronze medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica and won the 110H in 13.25, while 2008 gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson notched a 12.62-12.64 win over Queen Harrison in the 100H.

Reigning World Indoor champ Whiting had his seventh straight meet of the year over 21 meters, tossing the shot 21.74m/71-4 to beat Christian Cantwell's 2013 season best 20.29m/66-7.

Olympians T'erea Brown (400H) and Gia Lewis-Smallwood (DT) were also event winners, along with Justin Gaymon in the men's 400H. Wallace Spearmon had a U.S.-leading performance in the 200 (20.32) to take third, and 200m Olympic champ Allyson Felix opened her season with an 11.13 for fifth in the 100.

LESLIE STEEPLES TO AL IN TOKYO
2012 NCAA bronze medalist Cory Leslie sliced 11 seconds off his PR in the 3000SC at the Tokyo IWC meet, finishing fourth at 8:20.08, and Olympic Trials javelin champ Brittany Borman took over the U.S. lead with her 57.59m/188-11.

London bronze medalist Janay DeLoach Soukup won the women's long jump, and Lolo Jones took the 100H in 12.92 ahead of OG bronze medalist Kellie Wells and DeLoach Soukup. Mike Rodgers was the fastest man in the 100 at 10.19, while Omo Osaghae (13.45) and Bershawn Jackson (49.11) gave American men a sweep of the hurdles.

CROUSER, DIXON LEAD 'HORNS & 'HAWKS TO BIG 12 TITLES
Longhorn Ryan Crouser added two feet to his shot put PR, throwing 21.09m/69-2.5 to win by more than seven feet, and Jayhawk Olympian Diamond Dixon clocked 51.73 to win the 400 as the Texas men and Kansas women captured Big 12 team titles in Waco, Texas.

Paris Daniels helped the Kansas cause with her 22.73 PR win in the 200 and strong legs on the winning 4x100 and 4x400. Kansas State's Olympic silver medalist Erik Kynard won the men's HJ at 2.30m/7-6.5, and 2010 World Junior 100 silver medalist Charles Silmon of TCU zipped to a PR 20.33 in the deuce. Kyle Clemons of Kansas had a big PR to win the 400 at 45.10.

RUPP, CENTRO GO SHORTER AND WIN
Olympic 10,000 silver medalist Galen Rupp dropped down to the 3K at the Oregon Twilight and won in 7:46.34, downing fellow Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein. 2011 World 1500 bronze medalist Matthew Centrowitz also picked up a tidy win in the 800 at 1:47.95.

The revelation of the meet, though, was College of Idaho's Hillary Holt. A 5:09 prep miler in 2010 at Meridian (Idaho) Mountain View High School, Holt slashed her lifetime best to 4:11.62 to win the 1500 ahead of British star Jemma Simpson.

POWER, SPEED HEADLINE AT OXY FOR A CHANGE
Josh Mance raced to a U.S.-leading 45.08 in the 400, and Keshia Baker added an outdoor AL in the women's 400 at 51.15 at the Oxy Invitational in Eagle Rock, Calif. Field event athletes Jarred Rome (208-6 DT) and Crystal Manning (45-5.75 TJ) also had nation-leading efforts at a facility better known traditionally for its middle-and long-distance performances.

2011 World 100/200 silver medalist Walter Dix opened his '13 campaign with a 10.11 win in the century.




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.







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