Contact: Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x322
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2003
Dragila named Athlete of the
Week
INDIANAPOLIS - Stacy Dragila has been named USA Track & Field's
Athlete of the Week after she reclaimed the world indoor record in the
Visa women's pole vault Sunday at the USA Indoor Track & Field
Championships, held at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dragila cleared 4.78m/15-8.25 to break Russian Svetlana
Feofanova's indoor world record of 4.77m/15-7.75. Sunday in Boston,
Dragila secured her seventh U.S. indoor and 13th overall U.S. title at
4.40m/14-5.25 before eventually moving up to world-record heights.
Several other athletes turned in performances that are the best
in the world so far in 2003 at the USA Indoor Championships. They
include Gail Devers' American record of 7.74 seconds in the women's 60m
hurdles, Allen Johnson's time of 7.39 to win the men's 60m hurdles, and
Justin Gatlin's winning time of 6.45 to win the Verizon men's 60 meters.
Tim Rusan leaped 17.45 meters/57-3 to win the men's triple jump, and
Anna Norgren Mahon threw 22.85m/74-11.75 to win the women's hammer throw
to post world-leading marks in the field events.
U.S.-leading performances from the USA Indoor Championships
include Angela Williams' time of 7.16 in the women's 60m, Nicole Teter's
2:00.09 in the women's 800m and Tisha Waller's jump of 1.97m/6-5.5 in
the women's high jump. Kristen Heaston threw 18.03m/59-2 in the women's
shot put, Jonathan Riley had a time of 7:49.79 in the men's 3000m and
Tim Seaman finished in 19:21.56 in the men's 5,000m race walk. A.G.
Kruger won the men's 35 pound weight throw with a best of 22.25m/73-0,
and Stephen Harris had 4277 points to win the Southeastern Conference
pentathlon championship in Gainesville, Fla.
Several records fell in Boston as well. Allyson Felix broke the
national high school record with her time of 23.14 to finish second in
the women's 200 meters final. The Los Angeles Baptist High School
senior improved on 2002 Verizon Youth Athlete of the Year Sanya
Richard's previous prep best of 23.22, which Felix tied in the
semifinals.
Among collegiate competitors, Jeremy Scott, a senior at
Allegheny College, was second in the Visa men's pole vault at the USA
Indoor Championships at 5.70m/18-8.25, a personal best and a Division
III record.
In masters competition in Boston, Phil Raschker shattered the
world masters record for 55-to-59-year-old women, running 27.81 seconds
in the women's masters 200. Tony Young smashed the masters American
record in the men's 40-to-44 age group by more than a second, running
8:22.51 to lead second-place Brian Pope, who also was under the previous
record at 8:23.70.
Now in its third 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 the
USATF Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results
from the previous week.
2003 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 7, J-Mee
Samuels; January 14, Kevin Toth; January 21, Michelle Collins; January
28, Natasha Hastings; February 4, Regina Jacobs; February 11, Gail
Devers; February 18, Terrence Trammell; February 25, James Davis; March
4, Stacy Dragila.
BEST INDOOR MARKS FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 2, 2003
MEN
60: 6.45 Justin Gatlin, (Nike) Boston - 3/1 WORLD LEADER
200: 20.69 John Capel, (adidas) Boston - 3/2
400: 46.22 Ashton Collins, (Texas) Lincoln - 3/1
800: 1:49.18 Joel Legare, (UConn) Boston - 2/28
1500: 3:42.23 John Lunn, (Nike) Boston - 3/1
3000: 7:49.79 Jonathon Riley, (Nike) Boston - 3/2 U.S. leader
5000 Walk: 19:21.56 Tim Seaman, (NYAC) Boston - 3/2 U.S. leader
60H: 7.39 Allen Johnson, (Nike) Boston - 3/1 WORLD LEADER
HJ: 2.30/7-6.5 Charles Austin, (So High) Boston - 3/2
PV: 5.75/18-10.25 Derek Miles, (Nike) Boston - 3/1
LJ: 8.25/27-1 Miguel Pate, (Nike) Boston - 3/2
TJ: 17.45/57-3 Tim Rusan, (Nike) Boston - 3/1 WORLD LEADER
SP: 21.30/69-10.75 Kevin Toth, (Nike) Boston - 3/2
35Wt: 22.25/73-0 A.G. Kruger, (Unattached) Boston - 2/28 U.S. leader
Pent.: 4277 pts. Stephen Harris, (Tennessee) Gainesville - 2/28 U.S.
leader
WOMEN
60: 7.16 Angela Williams, (Nike) Boston - 3/1 U.S. leader
200: 22.84 Michelle Collins, (Nike) Boston - 3/2
400: 52.54 Monique Hennagan, (adidas) Boston - 3/1
800: 2:00.09 Nicole Teter, (Nike) Boston - 3/2 U.S. leader
1500: 4:15.81 Regina Jacobs, (Nike) Boston - 3/1
3000: 8:52.57 Regina Jacobs, (Nike) Boston - 3/2
3000 Walk: 13:07.68 Joanne Dow, (NE Walkers) Boston - 3/1
60H: 7.74 Gail Devers, (Nike) Boston - 3/1 WORLD LEADER
HJ: 1.97/6-5.5 Tisha Waller, (Nike) Boston - 3/2 U.S. leader
PV: 4.78/15-8.25 Stacy Dragila, (Nike) Boston - 3/2 WORLD RECORD
LJ: 6.38/20-11.25 Angel Heath, (Arkansas) Gainesville - 3/2
TJ: 13.72/45-0.25 Vanitta Kinard, (Nike) Boston - 3/1
SP: 18.03/59-2 Kristin Heaston, (Unattached) Boston - 3/2 U.S. leader
20Wt: 22.85/74-11.75 Anna Norgren Mahon, (Nike) Boston - 2/28 WORLD
LEADER
Pent: 4164 pts. Hyleas Fountain, (Georgia) Gainesville - 2/28
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