Daniels named Athlete of the Week

Brittany Daniels has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after setting an American junior record in the women's triple jump Sunday at the 2004 USA Junior Championships in College Station, Texas.

Daniels leaped 13.71 meters/44 feet, 11.75 inches in winning the USA Junior women's triple jump crown bettering the American junior record of 13.58m/44-6.75 set in 1985 by Wendy Brown of Southern California. A native of Tracy, Calif., Daniels was named the Verizon Women's Outstanding Athlete of the Meet for her achievements.

Other outstanding marks at the USA Junior Champs include Caitlin Chock (Roseville, Calif.), on Saturday breaking a 25-year-old U.S. high school record and meet record in winning the women's 5,000m in 16:10.60. The mark bettered the U.S. high school record of 16:13.7 set in 1979 by Mary Shea of Raleigh, N.C. On Friday, the University of North Carolina's Nick Owens threw 71.43m/234-4 in the men's hammer throw bettering the American junior record of 67.02m/219-10 set June 23, 2003 by Michael Freeman of Manhattan College.

Now in its fourth 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.

2004 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 13, Dan Taylor; January 20, Jen Toomey; January 27, Erin Gilreath; February 3, Jearl Miles-Clark; February 10, Alan Culpepper; February 17, Curt Clausen; February 24, Jen Toomey; March 2, Gail Devers; March 9, Allen Johnson; March 16, Sanya Richards; March 23, Phillip Dunn; March 30, Max Springer; April 6, Colleen De Reuck; April 13, Erin Gilreath; April 20, Maurice Greene; May 4, Tonette Dyer; May 11, Toby Stevenson; May 18, Sheena Johnson; May 25, Tim Seaman; June 1, Maurice Greene; June 8, Christian Cantwell; June 15, Stacy Dragila; June 22, Alan Webb; June 29, Brittany Daniels.