Posted: February 27, 2007

Athletics: Cantwell named Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Christian Cantwell has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the 2007 men's Indoor Visa Championship and men's shot put national title Sunday at the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, Mass. The 2004 World Indoor champion, Cantwell cemented his victory in the men's shot put with his first throw of 21.72meters /71 feet 3.5 inches. Cantwell had led the Visa Championship Series since his winning heave of 21.88m/71-9 at the 100th Millrose Games earned him 1,233 points. For his championship performance, Cantwell won $25,000 from Visa to support his Olympic journey. 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. 2007 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 2, Thomas Morgan; January 9, Jacquelyn Coward; January 16, Ryan Hall; January 23, Johnny Dutch; January 30, Shalane Flanagan; February 6, Gail Devers; February 13, Alan Culpepper; February 20, Bernard Lagat; February 27, Christian Cantwell. Best Marks Week Ending February 25 MEN 60 - 6.52 Jacoby Ford (Clemson) - Clemson, SC 2/24 200 - 20.57 (ot) Rubin Williams (Tennessee) - Lexington, KY 2/25 20.81 Arman Dixon (Sacred Heart) - Boston, MA 2/23 400 - 45.91 (ot) Reggie Witherspoon (Baylor) - Ames, IA 2/25 46.34 Erison Hurtault (Columbia) - New York City, NY 2/25 800 - 1:48.59 (ot) Ryan Brown (Washington) - Seattle, WA 2/24 1:48.73 Nick Symmonds (Oregon TC) - Boston, MA 2/25 Mile - 3:58.78 (ot) Leonel Manzano (Texas) - Ames, IA 2/24 3000 - 7:46.08 Matt Tegenkamp (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/24 5000 - 13:48.74 (ot) Brent Vaughn (Colorado) - Ames, IA 2/23 5000 Walk - 19:24.38 Tim Seaman (NYAC) - Boston, MA 2/24 60H - 7.47 Ron Bramlett (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/25 U.S. leader HJ - 2.30/7-6.5 Andra Manson (Texas) - Ames, IA 2/24 PV - 5.80/19-0.25 Jeff Hartwig (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/24 LJ - 8.06/26-5.5 Trevell Quinley (Unat.) - Boston, MA TJ - 17.28/56-8.5 Aarik Wilson (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/24 U.S. leader SP - 21.72/ Christian Cantwell (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/25 WT - 24.21/79-5.25 Kibwe Johnson (Ashland) - Saginaw, MI 2/23 Hept - 5870 Donovan Kilmartin (Texas) - Ames, IA 2/24 WOMEN 60 - 7.15 Courtney Champion (Tennessee) - Lexington, KY 2/25 U.S. leader 200 - 23.02 (ot) Shalonda Solomon (South Carolina) - Lexington, KY 2/25 23.41 Ebonie Floyd (Houston) - Houston, TX 2/24 400 - 51.38 (ot) Natasha Hastings (South Carolina) - Lexington, KY 2/25 51.95 Dee Dee Trotter (adidas) - Boston, MA 2/25 800 - 2:02.68 Nikeya Green (Reebok) - Boston, MA 2/25 U.S. leader Mile - 4:34.42 Shayne Culpepper (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/24 3000 - 8:56.74 Shalane Flanagan (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/24 5000 - 15:50.65 (ot) Ari Lambie (Stanford) - Seattle, WA 2/23 15:57.24 Michelle Sikes (Wake Forest) - Clemson, SC 2/23 U.S. leader 3000 Walk - 13:51.29 Sam Cohen (Parkside AC) - Boston, MA 2/25 60H - 7.88 Lolo Jones (Asics) - Boston, MA 2/25 HJ - 1.92/6-3.5 Amy Acuff (Asics) - Boston, MA 2/24 PV - 4.60/15-1 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) & Lacy Janson (Nike) - Boston, MA 2/25 LJ - 6.64/21-9.5 Brittney Reese (Ole Miss) - Lexington, KY 2/24 U.S. leader TJ - 13.56/44-6 Shani Marks (Unat.) - Boston, MA 2/25 U.S. leader SP - 18.46/60-6.75 Jillian Camarena (NYAC) - Boston, MA 2/24 WT - 24.54/80-6.25 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Boston, MA 2/25