Simbassa's speedy half marathon earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Running the 10th-fastest record-legal half marathon ever by an American man, Biya Simbassa (Flagstaff, Arizona/USATF Arizona) earned recognition as the 38th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.

Simbassa, who won the USATF 7-mile title in July, followed one of the quickest and deepest lead packs in history at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich in Spain to finish in 60:42. His time is the No. 10 all-time U.S. performance in a race that is eligible for record purposes. A 25th-place finisher in the half marathon at the inaugural World Road Running Championships earlier this month in Riga, Latvia, Simbassa also claimed the USATF 10K title on the road in 2022.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Lauren Hagans placed 10th in the women's half marathon at Valencia with a PB 69:41.
• Turner Wiley was ninth in the men's marathon at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
• Anna Oeser won the women's 5K at the Boston Mayor's Cup cross country event by 20 seconds with a 16:44.
• Sophia Laukli, who is best known as an Olympic skier, won the overall title at the Golden Trail Series championship in Italy with a third-place finish in the final race.

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; May 2, Gabby Thomas; May 9, Connor Burns; May 16, Britton Wilson; May 23, Brooke Andersen; May 30, Ryan Crouser; June 6, KC Lightfoot; June 13, Grayson Murphy; June 20, Yared Nuguse; July 17, Gabby Thomas & Christian Miller; July 20, Ednah Kurgat; July 27, Nikki Hiltz; August 3, Quenton Lanese; August 10, Shawnti Jackson; August 17, Michelle Atherley; August 30, Ryan Crouser, Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson & Laulauga Tausaga-Collins; September 6, Yared Nuguse; September 13, Jenny Hitchings; September 20, Yared Nuguse; September 27, Weini Kelati; October 3, Hobbs Kessler; October 10, Conner Mantz; October 17, Parker Valby; October 24, Biya Simbassa.

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.

Photo Credit: Kevin Morris