INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering the world and American women's age 60-64 record in the 3000 race walk and the American record in the 60-64 indoor mile*, Michelle Rohl (South Williamsport, PA/USATF Mid-Atlantic) earned recognition as the second USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2026.
Rohl, a three-time Olympian and the Pan American Games 20K race walk bronze medalist in 1999, broke the American women's 60-64 record in the indoor mile Saturday at the Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile in Ithaca, New York, clocking 5:29.05 to clip almost two seconds off the ratified record of 5:30.74 that was set by Suzanne McDonald in 2021.
She came back on Sunday to walk 15:09.64 for 3000 meters, taking more than 30 seconds off the world 60-64 record of 15:39.97 set by Marie-Astrid Monmessin of France in 2016.
Other top performances from last week:
Mariah Maxwell broke the girls' national high school indoor record in the 300 with her 36.24 at the VA Showcase, trimming .06 off the previous record.
Joetta Clark-Diggs chopped .45 seconds off her own American women's 60-64 record in the indoor 200 with a 28.17 at the USATF New York Open/Masters Championships.
* – all American records subject to verification by USATF Records Committee
Now in its 25th 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.
2026 Winners: January 15, Jonathan Simms; January 22, Michelle Rohl. 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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