White River Champ Nate McDowell Named USATF Athlete of the Week

July, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS – Nate McDowell of Corvallis, Oregon, has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the 2002 USA 50 Mile Trail Championships in course record-setting time on July 27 in Crystal Mountain, Washington.

McDowell covered the White River 50 Mile Trail Run in 6 hours, 50 minutes and 39 seconds, which is an average pace of 8:13 per mile. A former track and cross country runner at the University of Michigan, he beat runner-up Hal Koerner of Parker, Colo., by over 10 minutes. In early June, McDowell finished second to Karl Meltzer at the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run.

Ann Heaslett of Madison, Wisc., won the women’s title, finishing in 8:13:17. Heaslett overtook Petra Pirc of Salt Lake City, Utah with less than two miles to go, finishing less than two minutes ahead of Pirc (8:15:11).

Now in its second year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize 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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