INDIANAPOLIS -- Breaking her own women's T20 Para Athletics world record* in the 5000, Kaitlin Bounds (Russellville, AR/USATF Arkansas) earned recognition as the 16th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2026.
A 2024 Paralympian in Paris, Bounds broke her own global mark in the 5000 at the Drake Relays, running 17:10.37 to better the time of 17:10.74 that she set last year at Drake. The 34-year-old Arkansan finished sixth in the 1500 at the Paralympic Games and is a two-time World Para Championships competitor in the 800 and 1500. She also represented Team USA at the 2019 ParaPan American Games in Lima. Other top performances from last week:
Fiona Bayly, 58, had the highest women's age grading score at the USATF Masters 10K Championships with a 91.66% for her 39:06 performance.
Yared Nuguse was the men's winner at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships in Des Moines, running 3:54.06 to win by .56 seconds.
Nat Larson, 63, was the highest men's age graded performer at the USATF Masters 10K Championships, clocking 36:23 to score 91.72%.
Addy Wiley won the women's title at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships by .22 seconds in 4:25.42.
Madison Wiltrout won the Drake Relays women's javelin with a throw of 63.74/209-1 to move to No. 6 on the all-time U.S. performer list. * - all Para records subject to verification by World Para Athletics Now in its 25th 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 when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2026 Winners: January 15, Jonathan Simms; January 22, Michelle Rohl; January 29, Josh Hoey; February 5, Roisin Willis; February 12, Jordan Geist; February 19, Cole Hocker; February 26, Cynthia McNamee; March 5, Chase Jackson; March 12, Lauren Harris; March 19, Garrett Kaalund; March 26, Cooper Lutkenhaus; April 2, Rudy Winkler; April 9, Max Thomas; April 16, Sam Mattis; April 23, Tahmar Upshaw; April 30, Kaitlin Bounds.
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To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.
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