INDIANAPOLIS – Ryan Rau has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after becoming the overall winner Saturday at the HUFF 50K Trail Run in Huntington, Ind.

Running in his first ultramarathon, Rau won the men’s race in 4 hours, 21 minutes, 53 seconds, despite making a wrong turn during the second loop which cost him seven minutes. The 22-year-old Brighton, Mich., native faced a strong challenge from Ryne Melcher of Detroit, Mich., who finished as the runner-up, just 21 seconds behind Rau. Todd Scott of Royal Oak, Mich., was third in 4:28:07.

USATF’s 2002 Women’s Ultradistance Runner of the Year Ann Heaslett of Madison, Wisc., was the overall women’s winner in 4:45:38. Tamara Whitten of Indianapolis, Ind., was the runner-up in 5:04:50, with Linda Barhorst of Fort Loramie, Ohio, third in 5:22:37.

Now in its second year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2002 USATF Athlete of the Week winners: January 3, Jim Garcia; January 8, Mary Louise Michelsohn; January 15, Tamara Diles; January 22, Miguel Pate; January 29, Regina Jacobs; February 5, Jeff Hartwig; February 12, Meb Keflezighi; February 19, Curt Clausen; February 26, Jeff Hartwig; March 5, Nicole Teter; March 12, Jeff Hartwig; March 19, Aretha Hill; March 26, Deena Drossin; April 2, Kim Fitchen; April 9, Deena Drossin; April 16, Khalid Khannouchi; April 23, Kenta Bell; April 30, Suzy Powell; May 7, Deena Drossin; May 14, Savante Stringfellow; May 21, Adam Nelson; May 28, Kevin Toth; June 4, Lashinda Demus; June 11, Anna Norgren Mahon; June 18, Molly Huddle; June 25, Sanya Richards; July 2, Savante Stringfellow; July 9, Nicole Teter; July 16, Maurice Greene; July 23, Lashinda Demus; July 30, Kerron Clement; August 6, Nate McDowell; August 13, Phil Raschker; August 20, James Carter; August 27, Marion Jones; September 3, Colleen De Reuck; September 10, Suzy Favor Hamilton; September 17, Tim Montgomery; September 24, Marion Jones; October 1, Dan Browne; October 8, Jorge Torres; October 15, Khalid Khannouchi; October 22, Connie Gardner; October 29, Bolota Asmerom; November 5, Marla Runyan; November 12, Ed Gawinski; November 19, Don Sage; November 26, Jorge Torres; December 3, Ari Lambie; December 10, Helen Klein; December 17, Jared Cordes; Ryan Rau December 31.

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