Posted: December 14, 2005

Athletics:Pearce named USATF Athlete of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - Jack Pearce has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week following his victory in the Bantam Boys' 3 km race Saturday at the 2005 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

A member of the Rain City Flyers, Pearce (Lynnwood Wash.) braved extreme weather conditions to finish in 12 minutes, 17.07 seconds, winning the Bantam Boys 3 km division by a margin of 11 seconds ahead of runner-up Aaron Acord of the Arizona Blades. The Bantam Boys' race featured 246 athletes from across the country.

Another outstanding performance was turned in over the weekend by 2004 USATF National Junior Olympic Youth Girl's cross country champion Jordan Hasay, who won the girls' race Saturday at the 2005 Foot Locker XC Championships National Finals in San Diego, Calif. Hasay (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) broke away from the pack to take the lead as she approached the two-mile mark to win in 11:03.

Now in its fifth 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 the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2005 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 4, Amy Rudolph; January 11, Dathan Ritzenhein; January 18, Janine Davis; January 25, Wallace Spearmon Jr.; February 1, Erin Gilreath; February 8, LaShawn Merritt; February 15, LaShawn Merritt; February 22, Walter Davis; March 1, Angela Daigle; March 8, Gov. Mike Huckabee; March 15, Kerron Clement; March 22, Lauren Fleshman; March 29, Deena Kastor; April 5, Deena Kastor; April 12, Tianna Madison; April 19 Alan Culpepper; April 26, John Godina; May 3, Amy Rudolph; May 10, Galen Rupp; May 17, Erica McLain; May 24, John Godina; June 1, Walter Dix; June 8, Justin Gatlin; June 15, Darold Williamson; June 23, Willie Gault; June 28, Kerron Clement; July 6, Ebony Collins; July 12, Sanya Richards; July 19, Galen Rupp; July 28, Wallace Spearmon Jr.; August 2, Ryan Whiting; August 9; Adam Nelson, August 16; Justin Gatlin; August 23, Sanya Richards; August 30, Bernard Lagat; September 6, Abdi Abdirahman; September 13, Allyson Felix; September 20, Deena Kastor; September 27, Colleen De Reuck; October 4, Ryan Shay; October 11, Deena Kastor; October 17, Josh McDougal; October 25, Jarrod Shoemaker; November 1, Angela Homan; November 8, Meb Keflezighi; November 15, Arianna Lambie; November 22, Matt Tegenkamp, November 30, Ian Dobson; December 6, Kibwe Johnson; December 13, Jack Pearce.