Rupp named Athlete of the Week

Contact:
Vicky Oddi
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
317-713-4670

INDIANAPOLIS - Galen Rupp has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning two individual titles and anchoring the men's distance medley relay to victory at the 2009 NCAA DI Indoor Track and Field Championships at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station, Texas.

A 2008 Olympian, Rupp led the Oregon men to the their first indoor national team title and became the first person in NCAA history to win the 5,000 meters, 3,000m and the distance medley relay in the same championship. Rupp started with a win in the 5,000m in 13 minutes 41.45 seconds. Less than 90 minutes later, he anchored the DMR to victory, splitting 3:57.07 over the final 1,600m to cross the line in 9:29.59. On Saturday Rupp cruised to a title in the 3,000m, winning in 7:48.94, more than 5 seconds ahead of the field.

Now in its eighth 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 website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton; February 10, Shalane Flanagan; February 17, Galen Rupp; February 25, Dexter Faulk; March 3, Terrence Trammell; March 10, Diana Pickler; March 17, Galen Rupp.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING MARCH 15

MEN

60 - 6.51 Jacoby Ford (Clemson) - College Station, TX 3/13

200 - 20.63 Trey Harts (Baylor) - College Station, TX 3/13 World leader

400 - 45.71 Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) - College Station, TX 3/14 U.S. leader

800 - 1:48.04 Jacob Hernandez (Texas) - College Station, TX 3/14

Mile - 4:01.34 Craig Miller (Wisconsin) - College Station, TX 3/14

3000 - 7:48.94 Galen Rupp (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/14

5000 - 13:41.45 Galen Rupp (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/13

60H - 7.63 Ronnie Ash (Bethune-Cookman) - College Station, TX 3/14

HJ - 2.25/7-4.5 Scott Sellers (Kansas State) - College Station, TX 3/14

PV - 5.60/18-4.5 Jason Colwick (Rice) - College Station, TX 3/13

LJ - 8.01/26-3.5 Jeremy Hicks (LSU) - College Station, TX 3/13

TJ - 16.98/55-8.5 Christian Taylor (Florida) - College Station, TX

3/14 U.S. leader (best ever by a US Junior)

SP - 20.16/66-1.75 Ryan Whiting (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/13

WT - 22.88/75-0.75 Jason Lewis (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/14

Hept - 5988 Ashton Eaton (Oregon) - College Station, TX 3/14

WOMEN

60 - 7.13 Kya Brookins (South Carolina) - College Station, TX 3/14

200 - 22.80 Murielle Ahoure (Miami) - College Station, TX 3/13 World leader

400 - 51.55 Francena McCorory (Hampton) - College Station, TX 3/14

U.S. leader

800 - 2:03.71 Phoebe Wright (Tennessee) - College Station, TX 3/13

Mile - 4:29.72 Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) - College Station, TX 3/14

3000 - 8:42.03 Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - College Station, TX 3/14

COLLEGIATE RECORD

5000 - 15:58.92 Frances Koons (Villanova) - College Station, TX 3/13

60H - 8.00 Tiffany Ofili (Michigan) - College Station, TX 3/14

HJ - 1.98/6-6 Destinee Hooker (Texas) - College Station, TX 3/13

U.S. leader, =COLLEGIATE RECORD

PV - 4.35/14-3.25 Kylie Hutson (Indiana State) - College Station, TX 3/14

LJ - 6.50/21-4 Jeomi Maduka (Cornell) - College Station, TX 3/13

TJ - 13.16/43-2.25 Jeomi Maduka (Cornell) - College Station, TX 3/14

SP - 17.74/58-2.5 Sarah Stevens (Arizona State) - College Station, TX 3/14

WT - 22.09/72-5.75 D'Ana McCarty (Louisville) - College Station, TX 3/13

Pent - 4365 Amy Menlove (BYU) - College Station, TX 3/13