Phyllis Francis named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Phyllis Francis has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after breaking the National Youth and Junior Olympic meet records in the intermediate girls' 800 meter run at the 2008 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships in Omaha, Nebraska.

Competing for Team Evolution, Francis ran a scorching 2 minutes 4.83 seconds in the intermediate girls' 800m run, breaking 2008 Gatorade High School Female Athlete of the Year Chanelle Price's National Youth and Junior Olympic meet records of 2:06.94, set in 2006. Francis is a repeat champion in the intermediate girls' 800m run, claiming victory last year in 2:08.36.

Now in its seventh 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.

2008 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 8, Cheryl Foody; January 16, Nick Vena; January 22, Chanelle Price; January 29, Antwon Hicks; February 5, Adam Nelson; February 12, Lolo Jones; February 19, Adam Nelson; February 27, Michael Rodgers; March 3, Thomas Morgan; March 11, Bryan Clay; March 18, Bianca Knight; March 25, Phil Raschker; April 1, Orville Rogers; April 8, Lisa Koll; April 15, Ryan Hall, April 22, Deena Kastor; April 29, Leo Manzano; May 6, Shalane Flanagan; May 13, Bonnie Richardson; May 20, Jenn Stuczynski; May 27, Chanelle Price; June 3, German Fernandez; June 10, Brad Walker; June 18, Jenny Barringer; July 11, Jenn Stuczynski; July 16, Walter Henning; July 23, Jenny Barringer; July 29, Phyllis Francis.