Wilson's dynamic double earns her USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Running world-leading times in the women's 400m and 400m hurdles at the Tom Jones Memorial meet in Florida, Britton Wilson (Fayetteville, Arkansas/USATF Virginia) earned recognition as the 14th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2023.
 
Wilson, a junior at Arkansas who set an American indoor record for 400m at the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque last month, won the 400H on Friday in Gainesville with a 53.23 and then sprinted to a collegiate outdoor record 49.51 in the 400m on Saturday. Only her indoor 49.48 is quicker in collegiate history, and she clipped .06 off the previous outdoor CR that was set by Athing Mu in 2021.
 
A gold medalist in the 4x400m relay and fifth in the 400H at the World Championships last summer in Eugene, Wilson's 53.23 is her second-fastest time ever behind only the 53.08 that earned her the runner-up spot at the 2022 USATF Championships. It is also the third-fastest in-season time ever by a collegian.
 
Other top performances from last week:

• Fiona Bayly, 55, overcame the heat and the hills to run a 1:25:02 net time and earn the highest age grade score at 92.83% at the USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships. She was the 4th women's finisher in the overall masters competition.
• Nat Larson, 60, earned his second consecutive Age Grading gold medal with a 1:17:31 net time, earning the highest men's age grading score at 91.90% at the USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships. He finished 4th in the overall masters competition.
• Harrison Williams scored a world-leading and lifetime best 8,492 points to win the men's decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays. It was his first multis competition since the 2021 Olympic Trials.
• Rai Benjamin ran a world-leading 47.74 in the men's 400m hurdles at the Mt. SAC Relays to win by almost two seconds.

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.

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: Ashleigh Young