Thomas' double relay golds earn her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Helping the United States women to gold medals in the 4x100 and 4x400 at the World Athletics Relays, Gabby Thomas (Austin, TX/USATF Texas Southern) earned recognition as the 17th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2024.

The bronze medalist in the 200 at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver medalist in that event at last year's World Championships, Thomas handled second leg duties on the 4x100 squad that romped to a world-leading 41.85 and less than a half-hour later she split 49.58 on the second leg of the 4x400 that went on to win, also in a world-leading 3:21.70.

Thomas, who was a gold medalist in the 4x100 at Budapest last summer and earned silver at Tokyo in 2021, was the only man or woman in the Bahamas to medal in both the 4x100 and 4x400.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Tara Davis-Woodhall won the Arkansas Twilight women's long jump with a world-leading 7.16/23-6.
• Brooke Andersen had her second farthest throw ever in the women's hammer, and the fourth farthest in U.S. history, with a 79.92/262-2 to win at the USATF Throws Festival.
• Payton Otterdahl continued his hot streak in the men's shot put, winning the USATF Throws Festival with an outdoor PB throw of 22.41/73-6.25.
• Sophia Beckmon of Illinois tied the American U20 record in the women's long jump with a 6.86/22-6.25 at the Illini Tune-Up meet.
• Matthew Boling ran the leadoff leg on the gold medal winning U.S. mixed 4x400 relay at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, helping set Championships records in the prelims and final. Boling clocked 45.59 in the first round and then ran a 45.11 in the final.

Now in its 23rd 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.

2024 Winners: January 17, Weini Kelati; January 24, Cooper Teare; January 31, Nico Young; February 7, Fiona O'Keeffe; February 14, Elle St. Pierre; February 21, Grant Holloway; February 28, Jalani Davis; March 6, Elle St. Pierre; March 13, Rachel Glenn; March 20, Grant Fisher; March 27, Myrle Mensey; April 3, Jordan Davis; April 10, Hillary Bor; April 17, Jacious Sears; April 24, Christian Miller; May 1, Payton Otterdahl; May 8, Gabby Thomas.

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.

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