Avery Pearson and Jude Wheeler-Dee named Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week
Pearson (U Sask) and Wheeler-Dee (Queen's) both shattered meet records to take this week's top honours for Under Amour U Sports Athletes of the Week
Canadian Running and Under Armour have teamed up for the 2024 Canadian U Sports indoor track and field season to highlight some of the top homegrown talents across the country. Each week leading up to the 2024 U Sports Indoor Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg this March, Canadian Running will select one male and female track and field athlete to be the Under Armour Athlete of the Week.
The athlete of the week will be a male and female track and field athlete who achieved a standout performance, broke a school record or crushed a personal best. Each week of the U-Sports 2024 season these athletes will be featured on Canadian Running and awarded an Under Armour prize pack. Middle-distance runner Avery Pearson of the University of Saskatchewan and distance runner Jude Wheeler-Dee of Queen’s University have been chosen as the Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week for their performances between Jan. 15-21.
Female Athlete of the Week: Avery Pearson–women’s 600m
At the University of Alberta Golden Bear Open on Jan. 20, the third-year middle-distance runner for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies opened her season with a win in the women’s 600m. Pearson’s time of 1:30.25 set a new meet record, shattering the previous mark from 2017 by two-tenths of a second, and her performance also qualified her for the 2024 U Sports Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“I am really happy with my performance,” says Pearson on her new personal best. “Going into the race, I was just focused on getting a qualifying time for U Sports. So to be able to do that and run a meet record, it was a nice bonus.”
Pearson told Canadian Running that her goal for the 2024 U Sports season is to contend for a medal at the Canada West Conference championships and at U Sports. She is also eager to compete in the women’s 800m at the Bell Canadian Track and Field Olympic Trials in June. “The excitement of an Olympic year is driving me to continue to work hard for the outdoor season,” says Pearson.
Male Athlete of the Week: Jude Wheeler-Dee–men’s 1,500m
Wheeler-Dee has earned top honours for the week by breaking a 13-year meet record in the men’s 1,500m at the UOttawa Winter Classic on Jan. 20. Wheeler clocked an impressive 3:48.31, surpassing the previous record of 3:50.55 by more than two seconds. Wheeler-Dee is having a strong third year with the track and field and cross-country program at Queen’s, helping the Gaels men win U Sports XC bronze in November 2023.
Reflecting on his race, Wheeler-Dee says he is happy to be showing his fitness this early in the U Sports indoor season. “I am coming off base fitness, so to be able to run a good time and feel strong—it was nice.” He shared with Canadian Running that his goal for the 2024 U Sports season is to enjoy the process. “We only have four to five years to compete at this university level, so I am constantly reminding myself to take it all in,” says Wheeler-Dee.
The third-year chemistry major has not finalized his plans for the 2024 season and acknowledges that much is still uncertain. However, he intends to continue running a bunch of track races.
Julia Agostinelli and David Adeleye named Under Armour U Sports Athletes of the Week
If you would like to nominate a Canadian U Sports athlete for Under Armour Athlete of the Week, send @canadianrunning a message on Instagram or email marley@runningmagazine.ca.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
