Monson's speedy 3,000m earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Running the second-fastest outdoor 3,000m ever by an American woman, Alicia Monson (Longmont, Colorado/USATF Colorado) earned recognition as the 28th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2022.
 
Monson moved into the lead at the halfway point of the 3km at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Switzerland, passing 1,500m in 4:16.4. Going through 2km in 5:42.30, Monson continued to lead by a stride over Kenya's Margaret Kipkemboi and she was .3 ahead of the Kenyan at the bell. Down the final stretch, Monson was chased by Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Niyonsaba won on the lean at the line in 8:26.80, .01 ahead of Monson.
 
Monson's 8:26.81 moved her to No. 2 on the all-time U.S. outdoor performer list and No. 4 on the combined indoor/outdoor all-time U.S. performer list. It was an improvement of almost five seconds over the 8:31.62 she ran indoors in January to win the Millrose Games, and more than 13 seconds better than her previous outdoor PB. Only Mary Slaney's 8:25.83 at Rome in 1985 is ahead of Monson on the U.S. outdoor all-time list.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Noah Lyles won the Lausanne Diamond League men's 200m in 19.56, his 10th wind-legal sub-20 clocking of 2022 and the eighth-fastest time ever by an American.
• Aleia Hobbs won the women's 100m at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in 10.87, her second career Diamond League win and the first since Shanghai in 2019.
• Joe Kovacs won the Lausanne Diamond League men's shot put with a throw of 22.65m/74-3.75.
• Grayson Murphy won the women's title at the Challenge Stellina trail race in Italy, covering the 14.3km course in 1:32:43 to win by more than two minutes.
• Joseph Gray was the men's winner at the Challenge Stellina trail race in Italy by 26 seconds in 1:20:36.

Now in its 21st 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 when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2022 Winners: January 10, Alicia Monson; January 17, Keira D’Amato; January 24, Nyckoles Harbor; January 31, Elle Purrier St. Pierre; February 7, Chris Nilsen; February 14, Grant Fisher; February 21, Camille Herron; February 28, Cole Hocker; March 7, Grant Fisher; March 14, Randolph Ross; March 21, Grant Holloway; March 28, Anna Hall; April 4, Natalie Cook; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Gabby Thomas; April 25, Robyn Stevens; May 2, Erriyon Knighton; May 9, Emily Sisson; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Janee Kassanavoid; May 30, Michael Norman; June 6, Chari Hawkins; June 13, Devon Allen; June 27, Sydney McLaughlin; August 10, Roisin Willis; August 17, Grant Fisher; August 24, Kara Winger; August 31, Alicia Monson.

We welcome your nominations!

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org.

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