Ajee’ Wilson smashes American indoor 800m record, earns USATF Athlete of the Week

2/17/2017

 

INDIANAPOLIS – Ajee’ Wilson (Neptune, New Jersey) set a new American record in the women’s indoor 800m to win her fourth consecutive title at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games. The Olympian ran 1:58.27, just beating the 2002 record set by Nicole Teter.

 

Wilson paced herself during the first lap and sped to the front for the final 400m, breaking the previous record by .44. Adidas teammate Charlene Lipsey (Hempstead, New York) also finished under the 2002 AR in 1:58.64.  

 

Click here to watch the women’s 800m on USATF.TV + PLUS.

 

Other notable performances:

• Oregon sprinter Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way, Washington) ran a new collegiate indoor record in the 60m at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational (7.07), as well as a 22.60 200m.
• Tara Davis (Agoura, California) broke a 36-year-standing national record in the high school indoor long jump at the Dumanis Sports Group Prep Classic. Her jump of 21 feet, 11 inches bested the previous record of 21 feet, 7.5 inches.
• Jazmine Fray (Long Island, New York) set a new collegiate indoor record of 2:00.69 in the women’s 800m at Clemson’s Tiger Paw Invitational. The Texas A&M sophomore broke Nicole Cook’s previous record of 2:00.75 from 2005.
• South Dakota freshman Chris Nilsen (Kansas City, Missouri) is now ranked 11th in the world after breaking the 1997 indoor American Junior Record in the pole vault at Tyson Invitational (5.70).
• Courtney Okolo (Carrollton, Texas) shattered the American record in the women’s 500m at Millrose, winning in 1:07.34 to break Shana Cox’s seven-year-old mark of 1:08.70.
• Vernon Norwood (New Orleans, Louisiana) won the men’s 500m in 1:00.11 at Millrose, running the third-fastest indoor time and just 0.05 shy of the American record.
• Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta, New York) broke Mary Decker’s 1974 high school indoor record in the 800m at Millrose Games with a time of 2:01.78, besting the previous record by .02.

Now in its 16th 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 USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2017 Winners: January 5, Miranda Melville; January 12, Leonard Korir; January 19, Jordan Hasay; January 26, Keni Harrison; February 2, Michael Wardian; February 9, Mikey Brannigan; February 16, Ajee’ Wilson.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to Communications@usatf.org.

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Ashley Mitchell

Marketing & Communications Manager

USA Track & Field

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