6/17/2015
INDIANAPOLIS -- With a spectacular finish in grueling conditions, distance runner Ben True wins USATF Athlete of the Week after his performance at the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 13 in New York City.
True (West Lebanon, New Hampshire) made a strong final kick to win the 5,000m with his time of 13:29.48. His victory makes him the first American in history to win the event at a Diamond League meeting.
“I knew early on it was going to be a slow race,” he said, “and it was going to be very tactical trying to keep your mind right to get into position when the race heated up at the end. One of the best strategies to me is to get yourself right up to the front in good position so that people have to go around you before they kick.
Going into the final stretch, True had to catch a group featuring three Olympic medal winners in Dejen Gebremeskel, Thomas Longosiwa and Nick Willis.
To win against such a strong field, "it's a great honor,” Truth says. “It's a nice recognition for a lot of hard work"”
True is now preparing for USATF Outdoor Championships, which will take place in Eugene, Oregon beginning Thursday, June 25.
Other notable performances this week include:
● Francena McCorory (Hampton, Virginia) ran the second fastest 400m race in her entire career, as she set a world lead of 49.86 on Saturday, June 13 at the adidas Grand Prix on Randall’s Island in New York City.
● Tori Bowie (Clermont, Florida) captured her second consecutive 200m title at the adidas Grand Prix with her time of 22.23.
● Jonah Gorevic (Rye, New York) had one of the more impressive performances in adidas Dream races after the 11-year-old clocked 4:51.85 in the mile for a world record in his age group.
● Jenna Prandini (Clovis, California) helped the University of Oregon capture its first national title since 1985 at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Prandini’s 10.96 in the100m and 22.21 in the 200m were part of her 26 total points earned for the Ducks, who won the event with 59.
● Marquis Dendy (Middleton, Delaware), a senior at the University of Florida, won a windy long jump (8.43m/27-8) and the triple jump (17.50m/57-5) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His triple jump mark is third in the world and his long jump is fourth.
Now in its 14th 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.
2015 Winners: January 15, Chris Derrick; January 21, Demi Payne; January 28, Casimir Loxsom; February 4, Anselm LeBourne; February 11, Jenny Simpson; February 18, Brycen Spratling; February 25, Maksim Korolev; March 4, Shannon Rowbury; March 11, Mary Norckauer; March 18, Daloria Boone; March 25, Irene Obera; April 2, Michael Stigler; April 8, Allen Woodard; April 15, Joe Kovacs; April 22, Vashti Cunningham; April 29, Jasmin Stowers; May 6, Sanya Richards-Ross; May 13, Bernard Lagat; May 20, Christian Taylor; May 27, David Oliver; June 3, Joe Kovacs; June 10, Grant Fisher; June 17, Ben True
Join the conversation by following USATF on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About USATF
USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to Communications@usatf.org.
Ryan Stevens
Communications Intern
Ryan.Stevens@usatf.org
True (West Lebanon, New Hampshire) made a strong final kick to win the 5,000m with his time of 13:29.48. His victory makes him the first American in history to win the event at a Diamond League meeting.
“I knew early on it was going to be a slow race,” he said, “and it was going to be very tactical trying to keep your mind right to get into position when the race heated up at the end. One of the best strategies to me is to get yourself right up to the front in good position so that people have to go around you before they kick.
Going into the final stretch, True had to catch a group featuring three Olympic medal winners in Dejen Gebremeskel, Thomas Longosiwa and Nick Willis.
To win against such a strong field, "it's a great honor,” Truth says. “It's a nice recognition for a lot of hard work"”
True is now preparing for USATF Outdoor Championships, which will take place in Eugene, Oregon beginning Thursday, June 25.
Other notable performances this week include:
● Francena McCorory (Hampton, Virginia) ran the second fastest 400m race in her entire career, as she set a world lead of 49.86 on Saturday, June 13 at the adidas Grand Prix on Randall’s Island in New York City.
● Tori Bowie (Clermont, Florida) captured her second consecutive 200m title at the adidas Grand Prix with her time of 22.23.
● Jonah Gorevic (Rye, New York) had one of the more impressive performances in adidas Dream races after the 11-year-old clocked 4:51.85 in the mile for a world record in his age group.
● Jenna Prandini (Clovis, California) helped the University of Oregon capture its first national title since 1985 at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Prandini’s 10.96 in the100m and 22.21 in the 200m were part of her 26 total points earned for the Ducks, who won the event with 59.
● Marquis Dendy (Middleton, Delaware), a senior at the University of Florida, won a windy long jump (8.43m/27-8) and the triple jump (17.50m/57-5) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His triple jump mark is third in the world and his long jump is fourth.
Now in its 14th 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.
2015 Winners: January 15, Chris Derrick; January 21, Demi Payne; January 28, Casimir Loxsom; February 4, Anselm LeBourne; February 11, Jenny Simpson; February 18, Brycen Spratling; February 25, Maksim Korolev; March 4, Shannon Rowbury; March 11, Mary Norckauer; March 18, Daloria Boone; March 25, Irene Obera; April 2, Michael Stigler; April 8, Allen Woodard; April 15, Joe Kovacs; April 22, Vashti Cunningham; April 29, Jasmin Stowers; May 6, Sanya Richards-Ross; May 13, Bernard Lagat; May 20, Christian Taylor; May 27, David Oliver; June 3, Joe Kovacs; June 10, Grant Fisher; June 17, Ben True
Join the conversation by following USATF on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About USATF
USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to Communications@usatf.org.
Ryan Stevens
Communications Intern
Ryan.Stevens@usatf.org
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