INDIANAPOLIS -- Masters record holder Irene Obera wins USATF Athlete of the Week after her outstanding performance at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships Friday, March 20-22 at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Obera (Fremont, California) set multiple records including two world records and three American records. She became the first woman over 80 to complete an indoor pentathlon, recording 3,817 points for her first world record mark of the weekend. She set the next record in the 60-meter hurdles with her time of 13.76, and Obera’s three American records came in the long jump (2.72m/8-11.25), high jump (1.02m/3-4) and 800 meters (4:49.74).
 
“The harder the event is, the more satisfaction [I get],” she said. “I’ve had a number of records and they’re nice, and it means that you’ve got the best time of anyone. I’m better if I don’t tell myself the record and just do the best I can. Then I’m always amazed that I broke a record.”
 
Obera is no stranger to having her name in the history books. Her performances this weekend culminated in her ninth American record and eighth world record. She is the reigning USATF Masters Athlete of the Year.
 
Other notable performances this week included:
 

• Ty Brown (Washington, D.C.) set an M70 World record in the 60mH with his time of 9.44 at USATF Masters Indoor Championships to break the existing record of 9.76.
• Kenton Brown (Austin, Texas) set an M75 World record in the 60mH at USATF Masters Indoor Championships, where he ran 8.18, which was .02 faster than previous record of 8.20.

 
Now in its 14th 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 www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
 
2015 Winners: January 15, Chris Derrick; January 21, Demi Payne; January 28, Casimir Loxsom; February 4, Anselm LeBourne; February 11, Jenny Simpson; February 18, Brycen Spratling; February 25, Maksim Korolev; March 4, Shannon Rowbury; March 11, Mary Norckauer; March 18, Daloria Boone; March 25, Irene Obera.
 
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About USATF
USA Track & Field is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit http://www.usatf.org/.
 
To nominate an athlete for Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to Communications@usatf.org.

Amber Brooks
Internet Publishing Coordinator
Amber.Brooks@usatf.org