Whiting named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week
7/10/2013
PHOTO BY IMAGE OF SPORT
INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Whiting (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after setting a meet record at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Switzerland.
Whiting put the shot 21.88m/71-9.5 on his third attempt to establish the meet record and squeeze out a narrow win over 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Reese Hoffa.
“I was really looking for a strong showing to stay in the standings lead,” said Whiting of the point standings in the Diamond Race. “I felt better in Lausanne than I did going into Birmingham. These events are a lot of fun. I’m happy to be in the lead right now and I look to finish off this year by winning the championship at Brussels.”
Whiting, the 2013 USA Outdoor champion and the 2012 World Indoor Championships gold medalist, picks up his third Diamond League win of the season to go along with victories in Doha and at the adidas Grand Prix. He currently holds the top four throws in the world this season.
Whiting will take a little time off before he travels to Moscow to compete for Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships August 10-18 .
“I don’t look at myself as a favorite because I have not medaled at the world championships,” Whiting said. “As long as I stay healthy there is no reason I can’t see myself at the top of the podium. That’s my goal.”
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
Week in Review
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken
SPREE OF 1500M PERSONAL RECORDS IN BELGIUM
Seven U.S. men set lifetime bests and finished under 3:36 in the 1500m at Oordegem, Belgium, on July 6. The metric mile bonanza was led by Jordan McNamara's 3:34.00 in fourth, followed by Garrett Heath (5-3:34.12), Andrew Bayer (6-3:34.47), Cory Leslie (7-3:34.93), Will Leer (8-3:35.27), Craig Miller (11-3:35.48) and Jack Bolas (12-3:35.54).
Heather Kampf set a personal record in the women's 1500m to win at 4:08.37, and Jessica Young picked up another 100m title in 11.48.
GARDNER CONTINUES STREAK AT TOMBLAINE
NCAA/USA dash champion English Gardner won her fourth straight 100m final of the season at Tomblaine, France, on July 2 in her first race since capturing the U.S. title in Des Moines. David Verburg was also a winner with his 45.46 in the 400m, while David Torrence sliced his personal record in the 1500m to 3:34.19 to take third.
CASTLIN LEADS PARADE OF U.S. WINNERS AT CORK
U.S. sixth-placer Kristi Castlin clocked 12.84 to win the 100m hurdles at Cork, Ire., on July 2 to lead a group of four Americans atop the podium. Heather Kampf won the 800m in 2:01.56, and Jessica Young took the 100m in 11.43. Kind Butler was the men's 400m victor in 45.75.
ABBOTT TOPS 800M AT VICTORIA
Coming off a personal record win at the Jerome Classic, Joe Abbott notched his second straight 800m victory and ran the second fastest time of his life with a 1:45.63 at the Victoria NTL meet in Canada on July 5. Oregon's Mac Fleet set a lifetime best behind Abbott in 1:46.32.
Olympic 4x400m silver medalist Josh Mance used a 45.85 effort to win the 400m, and Kibwé Johnson took top honors in the hammer with a throw of 75.21m/246-9. Mary Wineberg was an easy winner in the women's 400m at 51.71, while Kerri Gallagher set a lifetime best of 4:09.64 to edge Geena Gall, personal record of 4:09.95, in the women's 1500m.
CHULA VISTA REPORT - OTC PRE-WORLD XI MEET
Will Claye won the men's triple jump with a leap of 17.47/57-3.75 in Chula Vista, Calif., to surpass the Moscow A standard on July 5. U.S. long jump winner George Kitchens upped his season best to 8.17m/26-9.75 to meet the world championship B standard, and Amanda Smock's 13.97m/45-10 took over the American outdoor lead in the women's triple jump.
BRACY SETS PERSONAL RECORD IN 100M
Former Florida State star Marvin Bracy set a personal best in his first European race, winning the 100m in 10.18 at Hilversum, Holland, on July 7. Another ACC product, Donté Nall, won the men's high jump with a personal record of 2.25m/7-4.5 clearance, and Tiffany Townsend won the women's 100m in 11.37.
Whiting put the shot 21.88m/71-9.5 on his third attempt to establish the meet record and squeeze out a narrow win over 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Reese Hoffa.
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| © Image of Sport |
“I was really looking for a strong showing to stay in the standings lead,” said Whiting of the point standings in the Diamond Race. “I felt better in Lausanne than I did going into Birmingham. These events are a lot of fun. I’m happy to be in the lead right now and I look to finish off this year by winning the championship at Brussels.”
Whiting, the 2013 USA Outdoor champion and the 2012 World Indoor Championships gold medalist, picks up his third Diamond League win of the season to go along with victories in Doha and at the adidas Grand Prix. He currently holds the top four throws in the world this season.
Whiting will take a little time off before he travels to Moscow to compete for Team USA at the World Outdoor Championships August 10-18 .
“I don’t look at myself as a favorite because I have not medaled at the world championships,” Whiting said. “As long as I stay healthy there is no reason I can’t see myself at the top of the podium. That’s my goal.”
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
Week in Review
From USATF Statistician Glen McMicken
SPREE OF 1500M PERSONAL RECORDS IN BELGIUM
Seven U.S. men set lifetime bests and finished under 3:36 in the 1500m at Oordegem, Belgium, on July 6. The metric mile bonanza was led by Jordan McNamara's 3:34.00 in fourth, followed by Garrett Heath (5-3:34.12), Andrew Bayer (6-3:34.47), Cory Leslie (7-3:34.93), Will Leer (8-3:35.27), Craig Miller (11-3:35.48) and Jack Bolas (12-3:35.54).
Heather Kampf set a personal record in the women's 1500m to win at 4:08.37, and Jessica Young picked up another 100m title in 11.48.
GARDNER CONTINUES STREAK AT TOMBLAINE
NCAA/USA dash champion English Gardner won her fourth straight 100m final of the season at Tomblaine, France, on July 2 in her first race since capturing the U.S. title in Des Moines. David Verburg was also a winner with his 45.46 in the 400m, while David Torrence sliced his personal record in the 1500m to 3:34.19 to take third.
CASTLIN LEADS PARADE OF U.S. WINNERS AT CORK
U.S. sixth-placer Kristi Castlin clocked 12.84 to win the 100m hurdles at Cork, Ire., on July 2 to lead a group of four Americans atop the podium. Heather Kampf won the 800m in 2:01.56, and Jessica Young took the 100m in 11.43. Kind Butler was the men's 400m victor in 45.75.
ABBOTT TOPS 800M AT VICTORIA
Coming off a personal record win at the Jerome Classic, Joe Abbott notched his second straight 800m victory and ran the second fastest time of his life with a 1:45.63 at the Victoria NTL meet in Canada on July 5. Oregon's Mac Fleet set a lifetime best behind Abbott in 1:46.32.
Olympic 4x400m silver medalist Josh Mance used a 45.85 effort to win the 400m, and Kibwé Johnson took top honors in the hammer with a throw of 75.21m/246-9. Mary Wineberg was an easy winner in the women's 400m at 51.71, while Kerri Gallagher set a lifetime best of 4:09.64 to edge Geena Gall, personal record of 4:09.95, in the women's 1500m.
CHULA VISTA REPORT - OTC PRE-WORLD XI MEET
Will Claye won the men's triple jump with a leap of 17.47/57-3.75 in Chula Vista, Calif., to surpass the Moscow A standard on July 5. U.S. long jump winner George Kitchens upped his season best to 8.17m/26-9.75 to meet the world championship B standard, and Amanda Smock's 13.97m/45-10 took over the American outdoor lead in the women's triple jump.
BRACY SETS PERSONAL RECORD IN 100M
Former Florida State star Marvin Bracy set a personal best in his first European race, winning the 100m in 10.18 at Hilversum, Holland, on July 7. Another ACC product, Donté Nall, won the men's high jump with a personal record of 2.25m/7-4.5 clearance, and Tiffany Townsend won the women's 100m in 11.37.