Sport

Gatlin named US Athlete of the Week

Justin Gatlin - file

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, CMC

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE sprint winner Justin Gatlin, who has been targeting Jamaican Asafa Powell's 100-metre world record, was named Tuesday the USA Track & Field (USATF) Athlete of the Week for his triumphs in Helsinki.

Gatlin impressively captured the 100 and 200-metre titles at the 2005 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Finland last week The North Carolina-based Gatlin, coached by Jamaican Trevor Graham, ran 9.88 seconds to win the 100 and 20.04 seconds in the 200 to become the first man to win both the 100 and 200 metres, respectively, at the World Outdoor Championships since Maurice Greene accomplished the feat in 1999.

Gatlin's winning margin of 0.17 seconds in the 100 metres was the biggest in meet history.

Now in its fifth year, USATF's Athlete of the Week programme is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport.

USATF names a new honouree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website.

Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Two Caribbean-born athletes, Kerron Clement and Sanya Richards, have secured USATF athlete of the week awards so far this year.

Trinidad-born Clement was athlete of the week twice, for the week ending March 15 for his world indoor record 44.57 in the 400 metres at the NCAA Championship in Arkansas, and June 28 for his world-leading 47.24 victory in the 400 hurdles at the US Nationals in California.

Jamaica-born Richards, who won silver in Helsinki, was athlete of the week for July 12 after her Rome Golden League win, and her Lausanne Super Grand Prix triumph over Bahamian Olympic and World Champion Tonique Williams-Darling.