Monson's American record* earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Bettering the American record in the women's 10,000m, Alicia Monson (Longmont, Colorado/USATF Colorado) earned recognition as the eighth USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.
 
Monson, an Olympian and World Championships competitor in the 10,000m, sliced almost 10 seconds off the existing American record with a 30:03.82 to place second at The TEN in San Juan Capistrano, California. The existing AR of 30:13.17 was set at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games by Molly Huddle. It was the second AR of the year for Monson, who clocked 8:25.05 for the indoor 3,000m at the Millrose Games on Feb. 11, and she is now No. 14 on the world all-time performer list for 10,000m.
 
Running in tandem with Britain's Eilish McColgan for much of the race, Monson went through 2km in 6:02.70, and then passed 4km in 12:05.61. Needing to average just under 72.5 seconds per lap to beat Huddle's mark, Monson dropped off that pace briefly before getting back on schedule as she hit 6km in 18:10.05. By 8km, she had only a .3 edge on McColgan, going through in 24:10.65, and despite a 67.99 final circuit, Monson couldn't hold off McColgan's kick that earned her the win and a British national record of 30:00.86.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• David Blaylock, 80, was the men's 80-84 winner at the USATF 100 Mile Road Championships in Henderson, Nevada, with a 29:47:29 clocking. He beat out four other men in his age group for the title and was the 18th overall male finisher.
• Emily Sisson won the women's USATF 15km Championships at Jacksonville's Gate River Run in 48:26, a 1:38 margin of victory.
• Winning by 40 seconds, Hillary Bor captured the men's USATF 15km Championships crown in 43:11 at Jacksonville.
• Woody Kincaid moved to No. 5 on the all-time U.S. men's 10,000m performer list with his 27:06.37 to win The TEN at San Juan Capistrano.

*Subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee
 
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.

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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