Reese Named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS — Brittney Reese (Gulfport, Miss.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning her sixth international title since 2009 with her gold medal in the women’s long jump at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Moscow on August 11.

Reese has now won the last six World Indoor, World Outdoor and Olympic gold medals in the women’s long jump and becomes the first woman to win three World Outdoor Championships gold medals in the event. Reese soared 7.01m/23-0 on her second attempt to win the competition.

“My plan was to get the first jump, but that didn't go as planned,” Reese said. “I thought that seven meters was going to get me a medal, but I didn't know it would get me gold. I'm glad it held up, and I'm glad I didn't wait until the last minute and give everybody a scare.”

After struggling in the preliminary round, Reese grabbed the final spot in the women’s long jump final. The win in Moscow now goes with her World Outdoor titles from 2009 and 2011.

“This was great because now I am in the history books, and I've done something that no one has ever done,” Reese said. “I'm just excited that God gave me the opportunity to get that last spot (in the finals), so I could come out here and show the world (the preliminary round) was not the Brittney Reese that they know.”

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; May 15, Jon Olsen; May 22, Mary Cain; May 29, Michael Tinsley; June 5, Mary Cain; June 12, Brianna Rollins; June 26, Brianna Rollins; July 3, Thomas Burns; July 10, Ryan Whiting; July 17, William Bell. Sr.; July 24, Jenny Simpson; July 31, Tia Jones; August 14, Brittney Reese



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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