Andersen's world-leading hammer throw earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Moving to number three on the all-time world performer list in the women's hammer throw, Brooke Andersen (State College, Pennsylvania/USATF New York) earned recognition as the 15th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.

Andersen, the gold medalist at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, had one of the best series ever by an American woman in the event, winning the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville with a 79.80m/261-10 in the penultimate round to take over the third spot on the all-time performer list behind Poland's world record holder Anita Wlodarczyk and American record holder DeAnna Price.

Taking over the 2023 world lead with her second-round throw of 78.90m/258-10, the fifth-best mark in U.S. history at the time, Andersen added another 78m+ effort in round four before her winning throw. She capped off her series with a 79.72m/261-6 that was the fourth farthest ever by an American.

Other top performances from last week:

• Jeannie Rice, 75, ran 3:33:15 at the Boston Marathon to age grade over 100%. Though Boston isn't a record-eligible course, her time was more than 30 minutes faster than the ratified AR for the women's 75-79 age group.
• Jenny Hitchings shattered her own American masters women's 55-59 marathon record with a 2:45:27 at London, chopping more than five minutes off her AR that was set in 2019. Her time, which placed her 25th overall in the race, also bettered the world 55-59 record and age graded over 104%.
• Aleia Hobbs ran a world-leading 10.86 in the women's 100m at the LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge. (Note: Her time was bettered later in the day by Shericka Jackson of Jamaica)
• Emma Bates finished fifth in the women's race at the Boston Marathon with a 2:22:10 that moved her to No. 10 on the U.S. all-conditions all-time performer list.

Now in its 22nd 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.

2023 Winners: January 17, Emily Sisson; January 24, Ednah Kurgat; January 31, Woody Kincaid; February 7, Grant Holloway; February 14, Yared Nuguse; February 21, Anna Hall; February 28, Talitha Diggs; March 7, Alicia Monson; March 14, Jasmine Moore; March 21, Keyzelle Thomas; March 28, Camille Herron; April 4, Hillary Bor; April 11, Valarie Allman; April 18, Britton Wilson; April 25, Brooke Andersen.

We welcome your nominations!

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

Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.