The USATF Athlete of the Week is one of the smartest things to come out of USATF communications. It gives the general track fan someone to notice in our sport and also gives them the reason why the athlete is being recognized.

Wallace Spearmon, photo by PhotoRun.net

Wallace Spearmon and Doc Patton are two of our most reliable world class sprinters. Last weekend, Doc Patton dropped a 10.06 100 meters. His training partner, Wallace Spearmon, opened up with a 19.95 for 200 meters, which is quite early for someone to be running sub 20 seconds for the furlong.

Both Mr. Patton’s and Mr. Spearmon’s demonstrations of superior fitness at this stage of the 2012 campaign drew some cynical comments from the know it alls on the web. The truth is, both Patton and Spearmon have the experience to know that they must be in supreme shape to make the team at the US Olympic Trials for Track & Field, coming up June 21-July 1. This, friends, is the best week and a half of track & field outside of the Olympics. That is fact. And some days, the competition may be the best in the world, Olympics included (except, they give those medals out in London).

Wallace Spearmon is the Athlete of the Week for USA Track & Field. He was given that award because of his prowess around the 200 meters. Coming off the turn, Wallace Spearmon just begins to move, and his last 50 meters is blazing, as many are falling apart, and Wallace comes to life.

Spearmon Named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS – Wallace Spearmon (Bryan, Texas) has been named USA
Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 200m on
Saturday at the UTA Bobby Layne Invitational in Arlington, Texas, with a
world leading time of 19.95.

After suffering from an achilles injury in 2011, the three-time world
medalist and two-time USA Outdoor champion in the 200m proved that he
was back, recording the 22nd sub 20 run of his life – tying Usain Bolt.
The two are on track to catch Michael Johnson who has 23 sub 20 times
and Frankie Fredericks who has the most all-time with 24.

A time this fast, this early in the year is anything but common as it’s
the earliest anyone has recorded a sub-20-second time in the Northern
Hemisphere outdoors. With his outstanding performance in Arlington,
Spearmon looks to continue his success throughout this Olympic year. 

“I’m finally healthy, and things are coming together,” Spearmon said.
“What I’ve been doing is working. I honestly didn’t realize how early it
is. This (the number of sub-20-times) is also something I’ve paid
attention to. It doesn’t make a difference to a lot of people, but I do
want to have the most sub-20 times ever. I want to be at the top of the
list.”

Now in its eleventh 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.

2012 Winners: January 5, Landon Peacock; January 11, Kirubel Erassa;
January 18, Shalane Flanagan; January 26, John Nunn; February 1, Gunnar
Nixon; February 8, Jenn Suhr; February 14, Jillian-Camarena Williams;
February 22, Brycen Spratling; February 28, Chaunte Lowe; March 7, Eric
Broadbent; March 14, Ashton Eaton; March 27, Wallace Spearmon