Willer Named USATF Athlete of the Week

Lincoln ? The accolades keep rolling in for Nebraska sophomore Natalie Willer as she was named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week on Tuesday after also being selected as the Big 12 Track and Field Female Athlete of the Week. Willer is the first Husker to be selected for the USATF award during its eight-year history.

 

A native of Elkhorn, Neb., Willer broke her own NU and American junior record in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 14-4 1/2 at the Concordia Twilight in Seward, Neb., on Friday, May 8. The vault shot Willer to the top of the NCAA performance list and is the fifth-best vault by an American this season. Her previous record of 14-3 1/2 was set at this year's Drake Relays, also a meet record.

 

Now in its eighth 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.

 

2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners:
January 6, Mason Finley
January 13, Amber Campbell

January 20, Josh Cox

January 27, German Fernandez

February 3, Ashton Eaton

February 10, Shalane Flanagan

February 17, Galen Rupp

February 25, Dexter Faulk

March 3, Terrence Trammell

March 10, Diana Pickler

March 17, Galen Rupp

March 25, Sumi Onodera-Leonard

April 1, German Fernandez

April 7, Cyrus Hostetler

April 14, Curtis Beach

April 21, Kara Goucher

April 28, Mason Finley

May 5, Chris Derrick

May 12, Natalie Willer