INDIANAPOLIS - Sanya Richards has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after breaking the American record in winning the women's 400 meters Saturday and coming back to win the women's 200 meters Sunday at the 2006 IAAF World Cup in Athens, Greece.

The 2005 World Outdoor silver medalist, Richards crushed the American record in the women's 400 meters with her time of time of 48.70 seconds, which obliterated Valerie Brisco's previous American record of 48.83, set at the 1984 Olympic Games. Her winning time put her #7 on the all-time world list. Richards then took the women's 200 meters easily on Sunday, using a strong stretch run to post a time of 22.23. For her efforts, Richards not only increased her lead at the top of the 400m Event Rankings, but also rose to the top of the IAAF Women's Overall Rankings replacing Meseret Defar (ETH).

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.

BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 17

MEN
100 - 9.88 Tyson Gay (adidas) - Athens, GRE 9/16

200 - 19.87 Wallace Spearmon (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

400 - 44.54 LaShawn Merritt (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

800 - 1:46.45 Khadevis Robinson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

1500 - 3:55.09 Gabe Jennings (Saucony) - Athens, GRE 9/16

3000 - 7:48.15 Adam Goucher (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

3000SC - 8:43.15 Steve Slattery (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

5000 - 13:36.83 Matt Tegenkamp (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

110H - 12.96 Allen Johnson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

400H - 48.12 Kerron Clement (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

HJ - 2.24/7-4.25 Tora Harris (Shore AC) - Athens, GRE 9/16

PV - 5.50/18-0.5 Russ Buller (Asics) - Athens, GRE 9/17

LJ - 7.88/25-10.25 Brian Johnson (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

TJ - 17.54/57-6.5 Walter Davis (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

SP - 20.60/67-7 Reese Hoffa (NYAC) - Athens, GRE 9/16

DT - 62.12/203-10 Ian Waltz (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

HT - 75.53/247-9 A.G. Kruger (Ashland Elite) - Athens, GRE 9/16

JT - 73.40/240-10 Rob Minnitti (Unat.) - Athens, GRE 9/17

Dec - 8022 Ryan Harlan (Unat.) - Talence, FRA 9/17

WOMEN
100 - 11.19 Torri Edwards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

200 - 22.23 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

400 - 48.70 Sanya Richards (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16 American Record

800 - 2:01.83 Hazel Clark (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

1500 - 4:13.55 Treniere Clement (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

3000 - 8:41.42 Kara Goucher (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

3000SC - 9:49.32 Lisa Galaviz (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

5000 - 15:17.65 Lauren Fleshman (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

100H - 12.90 Ginnie Powell (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/17

400H - 54.06 Lashinda Demus (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

HJ - 1.94/6-4.25 Amy Acuff (Asics) - Athens, GRE 9/17

LJ - 6.39/20-11.75 Hyleas Fountain (Nike) - Talence, FRA 9/17

TJ - 13.79/45-3 Shani Marks (Unat.) - Athens, GRE 9/16

SP - 18.43/60-5.75 Jillian Camarena (Ironwood) - Athens, GRE 9/17

DT - 61.83/202-10 Aretha Thurmond (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

HT - 67.39/221-1 Erin Gilreath (NYAC) - Athens, GRE 9/17

JT - 54.34/178-3 Kim Kreiner (Nike) - Athens, GRE 9/16

Hep - 5906 GiGi Johnson (Unat.) - Talence, FRA 9/17