University of Tennessee Athletics
FORMER VOL JUSTIN GATLIN NAMED USATF ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
May 16, 2006 | Men's Track
May 16, 2006
Fomer Vol Justin Gatlin has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after tying the men's 100 meter world record Friday at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar.
The reigning world and Olympic champion, Gatlin crossed the finish line in a world record time of 9.766 seconds with a legal wind reading of +1.7 meters per second. The time was originally reported as setting a new world record but was later changed after the meet failed to round the time up to the hundreths, 9.77. Jamaican Asafa Powell set also ran a time of 9.77 in Athens on June 14, 2005.
During his two seasons at Tennessee (2001-02), Gatlin won six consecutive NCAA sprint titles, the most ever by a track and field Volunteer. He accumulated 12 All-America honors in the brief span. After turning pro prior to his junior year in late summer 2002, Gatlin won the 2003 world indoor title in the 60. Gatlin won a complete set of Olympic medals in 2004 at the Athens Games, including the coveted 100 gold. In 2005, Gatlin swept the sprints with gold medals in the 100 and 200 last summer at the world outdooor championships in Helsinki, Finland. His Friday 100 world record cements his title as "World's Fastest Human."
Now in its sixth 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 and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
