Cherry’s sub-45 streak earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS — Adding on to his impressive streak of sub-45 second performances in the men’s 400m this season, Michael Cherry (Inglewood, California) earned recognition as the 27th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2021. 

Cherry, a gold medalist on Team USATF’s 4x400m relay squad at Tokyo and the fourth-place finisher in the open 400m, won the 400m at the Brussels Diamond League meet in 44.03 – a lifetime best – and also was victorious at the Chorzów World Continental Tour meet in 44.94 – his 13th straight sub-45 clocking of the season. 

Also a gold medalist in the 4x400m at the 2019 World Championships, Cherry has lowered his outdoor personal best in the 400m four times in 2021 and started off his three-meet winning streak on Aug. 31 with a victory at Rovereto in his first post-Games appearance. 

Other top performances from last week:

• Grayson Murphy, who was sixth in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympic Trials, won the Trofeo Nasego mountain race in Italy by more than two minutes, covering the 21-kilometer World Mountain Running Association course in 1:45:56, a course record.
• Josh Awotunde became the 15th American member of the 22m club in the men’s shot put, winning the Padua World Continental Tour meet in Italy with a 22.00m/72-2.25 lifetime best.
• Elise Cranny moved to No. 8 on the all-time U.S. outdoor performer list in the women’s mile with a 4:21.90 at the Brussels Diamond League meet, the fastest time by an American this season.
• Alicia Monson took over the No. 4 spot on the all-time U.S. women’s outdoor 5,000m performer list with her 14:42.56 at the Brussels Diamond League meet, the best time by an American this year.

Now in its 20th 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. 

2021 Winners: January 21, KC Lightfoot; January 28, Ryan Crouser; February 4, Bryce Hoppel; February 11, Athing Mu; February 18, Elle Purrier; February 25, Jaylen Slade; March 4, Grant Holloway; March 11, Emmanuel Bor; March 18, Tara Davis; March 25, Emily Sisson; April 1, Tara Davis; April 8, Kenny Selmon; April 15, DeAnna Price; April 22, Athing Mu; April 29, Rudy Winkler; May 6, Trayvon Bromell; May 13, Sha’Carri Richardson; May 20, Athing Mu; May 27, Ryan Crouser; June 3, Maggie Malone; June 10, Trayvon Bromell; June 24, Ryan Crouser; July 1, Sydney McLaughlin; July 21, Maggie Malone; August 25, Athing Mu; September 2, Courtney Dauwalter; September 9, Michael Cherry. 

We welcome your nominations! 

To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about his/her performance to communications@usatf.org. 

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