INDIANAPOLIS -- Sanya Richards-Ross earns USATF Athlete of the Week honors after her record-setting performances at the IAAF/BTC World Relays on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, in Nassau, Bahamas.
 
Richards-Ross (Austin, Texas) helped the women’s distance medley relay team set a new world record of 10:36.50. Along with teammates Treniere Moser, Ajee’ Wilson and Shannon Rowbury, the quartet beat the IAAF’s previously listed world best of 10:48.38, run by Villanova in 1988.
 
“I felt really great,” Richards-Ross said. “It was an honor to partner with these ladies. I’ve never run a distance medley relay before and for my first one to be a world record, it was really special. I just wanted to do my part and run well here. I love the Bahamas and it was an honor to have a world record. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”
 
She also won gold in the women’s 4x400-meter relay with teammates Phyllis Francis (Queens, New York), Natasha Hastings (Brooklyn, New York) and Francena McCorory (Hampton, Virginia). Her 400m split was 48.79, which was the fastest for the event.
 
“It’s an amazing feeling,” continued the four-time Olympic champion. “When I first started running for the U.S., sometimes I thought the Jamaicans were really upset, but now they’ve really started to embrace me again. I feel so much love from my U.S. fans and my Caribbean fans. I kind of feel like I’m enjoying my twilight years in track and field. I’m enjoying every moment I can.”
 
Richards-Ross was the only two-time gold medalist at the second installment of the IAAF/BTC World Relays. She also took home the gold at the inaugural edition of the IAAF World Relays as a member of the women’s 4x400m.
 
Other outstanding performances this week include:
 

• Ben Blankenship (Stillwater, MN) ran an impressive anchor leg for the men’s DMR team. His 1600m time of 3:51.24 led Team USA to a 9:15.50 gold-medal finish and a new world record at IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.

• Kara (Patterson) Winger (Vancouver, Washington) won the javelin competition at the Longhorn Invitational in Austin, Texas, with a throw of 66.47m/218-1, which is the second farthest throw ever by an American, behind only her own American record.

 
Now in its 14th 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 www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2015 Winners: January 15, Chris Derrick; January 21, Demi Payne; January 28, Casimir Loxsom; February 4, Anselm LeBourne; February 11, Jenny Simpson; February 18, Brycen Spratling; February 25, Maksim Korolev; March 4, Shannon Rowbury; March 11, Mary Norckauer; March 18, Daloria Boone; March 25, Irene Obera; April 2, Michael Stigler; April 8, Allen Woodard; April 15, Joe Kovacs; April 22, Vashti Cunningham; April 29, Jasmin Stowers; May 6, Sanya Richards-Ross.
 
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About USATF
USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.
 
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to Communications@usatf.org.