HUFF 50K Champ Jim Garcia Named USATF Athlete of the Week

January 3, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS – Jim Garcia has been named USA Track & Field’s first Athlete
of the Week for 2002 after winning the 2001 USA 50K Trail Championships at
the Huntington Ultra Frigid Fifty (HUFF 50K) Saturday in Huntington,
Indiana.

With temperatures never rising above 20 degrees and with wind chill
readings close to zero, Jim Garcia came from behind in the last 5K to win
the men’s title over a strong field in 3 hours, 39 minutes, 13 seconds.
Garcia, 43, of Westford, Mass., finished just ahead of runner-up Charles
Hubbard of Bloomington, Minn., who completed the 32.4-mile course in
3:41:02. Defending champion Mark Godale of Streetsboro, Ohio, placed third
in 3:43:52.

In the women’s race, 35-year-old Anne Riddle of Asheville, N.C., ran just a
few strides ahead of Ann Heaslett of Madison, Wis., for the first 20 miles
of the contest before Riddle broke away to win in 4:16:31. Heaslett was
second in 4:20:49, followed by Anong Pustow of Louisville, Ky., who was
third in 4:30:57. A total of 250 athletes competed Saturday in Huntington.

For more information on the USA 50K Trail Championships, including the
complete results, go to: www.Huff50K.com.

Now in its second 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 Web site.
Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

Contact: Tom Surber
Media Information Manager
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0500 x317
Tom.Surber@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org

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