Posted: July 7, 2006

Athletics: Collins named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Ebony Collins has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the Young Women's 400 meter dash, 400 meter hurdles, and placing third in the 100m hurdles and fourth in the 100 meter dash at the 2006 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday.

The 2005 USATF Youth Athlete of the Year and 2006 USA Junior 400-meter hurdle runner-up, Collins medaled in four events within a four-hour time span. She started the day with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.92 seconds. Collins retuned to place fourth in the 100 meters in 11.80 seconds. Half an hour after that she won the 400 meters in 52.66 seconds, then finished her day with a third-place finish in the 100m hurdles in 14.17 seconds.

The leading performance among professional athletes was turned in by 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist and 2006 Visa champion Lashinda Demus, who dominated the field at the Athens Super Grand Prix in the women's 400 meter hurdles Monday, winning easily in a world-leading, personal-best time of 53.02 seconds.

Now in its sixth 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.

2006 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 3, Walt Henning; January 10, Amandi Rhett; January 17, Kevin Eastler; January 24, Marisa Hanson; January 31, Me'Lisa Barber; February 7, Reese Hoffa; February 14, Wallace Spearmon; February 21, Ryan Hall; February 28, Terrence Trammell; March 7, Ryan Harlan; March 14, Walter Davis; March 21, Bill Collins; March 28, Johnnye Valien; April 4, Deena Kastor; April 11, Trey Hardee; April 18, Meb Keflezighi; April 25, Deena Kastor; May 2, Alan Webb; May 9, Bershawn Jackson; May 16, Justin Gatlin; May 23, Kim Kreiner; May 30, Bryan Clay; June 6, Sanya Richards; June 13, Xavier Carter; June 20, A.J. Acosta; June 27, Lashinda Demus; July 5, Ebony Collins.

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