The U.S. Olympic Committee has named sprinter Justin Gatlin one of its May Athletes of the Month.

The reigning Olympic and World 100m champion, Gatlin (Raleigh, N.C.) tied the men's world record at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha on May 12. His time of 9.77 seconds with a wind reading of +1.7 meters per second (a mark ratified by the IAAF on Friday) ties the record set by Jamaican Asafa Powell on June 14, 2005 in Athens.

Gatlin is slated to compete in the 100 meters at the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, June 21-25. Others recognized by the USOC for outstanding achievements in May include women's cyclist Amber Neben, and The USOC Team of the Month was awarded to the USA Women's National Field Hockey Team.

For more information on the USOC's May Athletes of the Month visit:
www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf