Abdirahman’s marathon record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Abdi Abdirahman (Tucson, Arizona) broke the American masters men’s marathon record to earn USATF Athlete of the Week.
 
Abdirahman, 43, earned a record fifth Olympic berth with his third-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials - Marathon in Atlanta, and his 2:10:03 bettered the pending American men’s 40-44 record of 2:12:10, set last year by Bernard Lagat. An Olympic qualifier in the marathon in 2012, Abdirahman three times ran for Team USATF in the 10,000m at an Olympic Games, with a best finish of 10th in 2000 at Sydney. He has also represented the U.S. in the 10,000m at three World Championships.
 
Full results are here.
 
Other notable performances from the past week:

• Aliphine Tuliamuk — Tuliamuk won the women’s Olympic Trials marathon in 2:27:23, the second-fastest winning time in race history.
• Galen Rupp — Rupp joined Frank Shorter as the only men to ever win back-to-back U.S. Olympic Trials marathons. His 2:09:20 was the third-fastest winning time in race history.
• Karissa Schweizer — Schweizer shattered the American indoor record in the women’s 3,000m at Boston with her 8:25.70. That time also ranks her No. 5 in the world all-time and is superior to the American outdoor record.
• Josh Thompson — Thompson won the men’s 1,500m at Boston in 3:34.77 to move to No. 2 on the all-time U.S. indoor list.
• Vanessa Fraser — Fraser ran the No. 2 all-time U.S. women’s indoor 5,000m, clocking 14:48.51 at Boston to clip more than 19 seconds off her overall PR.
• Corey Gorgas — Gorgas won the U20 men’s title by five seconds at the Pan American Cup cross country championships in Canada to lead Team USATF to the team gold.
• Brooke Rauber — Rauber was the women’s U20 gold medalist at the Pan American Cup cross country championships, winning by 11 seconds.
• Grace Stark -- Stark twice bettered the world U20 record in the women’s indoor 60m hurdles, finishing second at the SEC Championships for Florida with a 7.91.

Now in its 19th 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 USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2020 Winners: January 9, Miranda Melville; January 16, Paul Perry; January 23, Natosha Rogers; January 30, Tyler Day, February 6, Devin Dixon; February 13, Elle Purrier; February 20, Tori Franklin; February 27, Sandi Morris; March 4, Abdi Abdirahman.
 
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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