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Arnold Named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS- Dominique Arnold has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting a new American record in the men's 110 meter hurdles Tuesday at the 'Athletissima' Super Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The 2006 USA Outdoor champion, Arnold set a new American record of 12.90 seconds, trailing China's Liu Xiang who set a new World record of 12.88. Arnold's and Xiang's times both bettered the previous World record of 12.91, held by Britain's Colin Jackson and Xiang. National Track & Field Hall of Famer Roger Kingdom held the previous American record of 12.92 set in Zurich on August 16, 1989.

Also in Lausanne, 2006 NCAA 100 meter and 400 meter champion Xavier Carter ran the second fastest 200 meter time in history of 19.63 seconds. Only Michael Johnson's world record time of 19.32 seconds from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta is faster.

Three-time U.S. champion Daniel Lincoln broke the 21-year-old American 3,000 meter steeplechase record Friday at the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy. Lincoln finished fifth in 8 minutes 8.82 seconds to replace National Track & Field Hall of Famer Henry Marsh's 8:09.17 on the record list.

Also in Rome, reigning Olympic and World champion Jeremy Wariner ran the fastest 400 meter time in the world this year of 43.62 seconds. He now holds the four fastest 400m times in the world this season.

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; July 11, Jeremy Wariner; July 18, Dominique Arnold.

Demus named USOC Athlete of the Month

2005 World Outdoor Championships 400m hurdles silver medalist Lashinda Demus has been named the USOC's Woman Athlete of the Month for June.

Demus won the women's 2006 Outdoor Visa Championship Series and the women's 400-meter hurdles national crown for the second consecutive year at the 2006 AT&T USA Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis. A 2004 Olympian, Demus' world-leading 53.07 in the 400-meter hurdles earned her 1,234 points and the overall 2006 Outdoor Visa Championship. On July 3 in Athens, Greece, Demus improved her world-leading time by winning the 400m hurdles in 53.02 seconds. Demus owns the four-fastest times in the world this year.

Demus shares the Athlete of the Month award with fencer Mariel Zagunis, who in June clinched the title of overall FIE 2006 World Cup Champion.

Swimmer Michael Phelps won the men's USOC Athlete of the Month award after winning six titles at the Santa Clara International Meet. Second place for the men went to two-time Olympic medalist and American record holder Bernard Lagat, who became the first man in history to win the 5,000 and 1,500-meter double at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships winning in 13:14.32 and 3:39.29, respectively.