Slade breaks prep sprint record to earn USATF Athlete of the Week honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Florida high schooler Jaylen Slade (Bradenton, Florida) won the fan vote to earn USATF Athlete of the Week award after bettering the existing prep record in the men’s 200m.
 
Competing in a special high school section at the final American Track League meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Slade overcame a slight bobble out of the blocks and tore off the final turn to stop the clock at 20.62 and take .01 off the previous record, which was set in March 2016 by 2019 World Championships gold medalist Noah Lyles.
 
The 17-year-old IMG Academy junior has been undefeated in distances from 55m to 400m this indoor season, and last month ran the second-fastest high school 300m ever with a 32.77 at the VA Showcase. His 200m time is the fastest in the world in 2021 for U20 athletes and equals 8th on the all-time world U20 indoor list.
 
More top performances:

• Raven Saunders won the women’s indoor shot put competition at the American Track League meet, throwing a PR 19.57m/64-2.5.
• Allyson Felix made a rare indoor appearance and won the women’s 200m at the American Track League meet in an indoor lifetime best 22.59.
• Christina Clemons ran a world-leading 7.81 to win the women’s 60m hurdles at Torun, Poland.
• Javianne Oliver ran 7.08, the top U.S. time in 2021, to win the women’s 60m at Torun, Poland, equaling the world lead.
• Elise Cranny became the No. 3 all-time American woman at 10,000m with her 30:47.42 at The Ten in California.
• Grant Fisher moved to 5th on the all-time U.S. men’s 10,000m list with a 27:11.29 at The Ten in California.

 
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.
 
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.
 
Fans can follow along with #USATF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.