07-06-2004

INDIANAPOLIS - Le Shundra "DeDee" Nathan of the Indianapolis Invaders track club has been named the USA Track & Field athlete of the week after turning in several spectacular performances at the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships held this past weekend in Bloomington, Indiana.

Nathan was named the female Most Valuable Athlete by scoring the most individual points at the Club Championships tallying 42.5 of the Indiana Invaders women's 167 total points. The Invaders won the men's, women's and combined scoring at the event

The defending Olympic Trials heptathlon champion, Nathan placed first in the 4x100 meter relay in 47.16 seconds, first in the woman's high jump with a jump of 1.72m/5-7.75, second in the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 13.75 seconds, second in the javelin throw in 44.81m/147-0 and third in the shot put with a throw of 13.79m/45-3.

Other outstanding performances from the National Club Track & Field Championships included Olympic Trials Qualifiers Hope Sanders and Zack Riley of the Invaders claiming Top Female & Male Performer honors. Sanders defended her national title in the club championships 800m with a record time of 2:05.11, while Riley landed an Olympic Trials qualifying throw of 69.88 meters for a new record in the hammer throw.

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; July 6, DeDee Nathan.