INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering the ratified women's American records* in the 15km and 10 miles at the USATF 10 Mile Championships, Taylor Roe (Durham, NC/USATF North Carolina) earned recognition as the 13th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2025.
Roe, the 2022 NCAA indoor 3000 champion for Oklahoma State and winner of the USATF Half Marathon title in 67:22 last month, blistered the Credit Union Cherry Blossom course in Washington, DC, clocking 49:53 to win and slice 45 seconds off the ratified American record of 50:38 that was set by Weini Kelati in 2024. Kelati also ran a pending AR of 50:05 earlier this year.
After sharing the lead with Emma Grace Hurley through 5km in 15:32, Roe was alone at the front by 10km in 30:56 to establish a 22-second gap on her nearest challenger. Passing 15km in 46:24 and more than a minute up on Ethiopia's Adane Anmaw, Roe cruised through the final mile and crossed the finish line 1:07 ahead of Anmaw to collect her second career U.S. national title.
Other top performances from last week:
Alex Maier was the top American (second overall) at the men's USATF 10 Mile Championships at the Cherry Blossom race in Washington, DC, clocking 45:15 to better the ratified American record of 45:56, set last year by Hillary Bor.
Kenny Bednarek won the men's 100 (10.07) and 200 (20.07) at the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the women's 400 hurdles in a world-leading 52.76 at the Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston. She also won the hurdlers' flat 400 in 50.32.
Melissa Jefferson won the women's 100 (11.11) and 200 (23.46 with a -4.7 wind) at the Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston.
* – all records are subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee
Now in its 24th 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.
2025 Winners: January 15, Zariel Macchia; January 22, Conner Mantz; January 29, Katelyn Tuohy; February 5, Ethan Strand; February 12, Yared Nuguse; February 19, Grant Fisher; February 26, Josh Hoey; March 5, Heather MacLean; March 12, Cole Boone; March 19, Isabella Whittaker; March 26, Claire Bryant; April 2, Curtis Thompson; April 9, Taylor Roe.
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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