INDIANAPOLIS ­ Jim Garcia (Westford) 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.