Week in Review - February 6-12

 by USATF Statistician Glen McMicken

In addition to the USA Track & Field Classic, here is a recap of last week's action:

LAGAT SMASHES 5K AR AT MILLROSE GAMES
The venue may have changed for the storied Millrose Games, but the talent on the track and in the field was stellar at the Armory as Bernard Lagat smashed the indoor American Record in the 5, 000 meters, chopping more than four seconds off the previous standard with his 13:07.15.

The owner of the previous record? Galen Rupp, who a thousand miles away at the USATF Classic at Arkansas snatched away Lagat's two-mile AR on the same evening.

Hot miles were also on tap, with 2011 World outdoor 1500 bronze medalist Matthew Centrowitz notching a PR 3:53.92 to move atop the '12 U.S. list. Behind him, BYU's Miles Batty broke the collegiate record with a 3:54.54 clocking.

The women's 1500m was a triumph for '11 World outdoor champ Jenny Simpson, who won with a world-leading 4:07.27 PR, just ahead of Shannon Rowbury's PR 4:07.66 in second.

Defending Olympic 400 champion LaShawn Merrit stepped up a tad bit in distance to claim the 500m title with a world-leading 61.39 PR, and David Oliver ran a world-leading 7.01 for the 55 hurdles en route to a 7.51 win in the 60H.

Sanya Richards-Ross raced to her second straight WL in the 400 at 50.89, and Kristi Castlin's 7.37 55H en route to a 7.91 60H win was also the fastest in the world this season.

The top field performance went to World outdoor high jump champ Jesse Williams, who cleared a U.S.-leading 2.32m/7-7.25.
 

USATF Teleconference excerpts: Lagat, Camarena-Williams, Suhr
On Wednesday USA Track & Field hosted a national media teleconference with Bernard Lagat, Jillian Camarena-Williams and Jenn Suhr, who all recently set American records.

Lagat established a new American record in the 5,000-meters Saturday at the 105th Millrose Games while Camarena-Williams bettered her own American record in the women's shot put at the USA Track & Field Classic in Fayetteville, Ark., and Suhr improved her own American record in the women's pole vault February 4 at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix.
Continue reading the full release and quotes here.

GILL Athletics names recipient of 2012 USATF Coaches Education Level I Scholarship
CHAMPAIGN, IL--Matt Luck, head coach of Willoughby South (OH) High School, has been awarded a scholarship from Gill Athletics for the USATF Level I Coaches Education School to be held at Defiance College from February 24-26.
Continue reading the full release here.

USATF Foundation launches Run With US! in Los Angeles
INDIANAPOLIS - The USA Track & Field Foundation successfully launched the inaugural Run With US! (RWUS!) program on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at the John Muir Middle School in Los Angeles, CA,  Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld announced today.

The primary focus of RWUS! is fighting the epidemic of childhood obesity and its associated negative medical, social and psychological effects, especially as it relates to inner-city youth. By having elite athletes and Olympians as teachers, mentors and role models, the Foundation expects to positively impact the way children view exercise and nutrition.
Continue reading the full release here.