Jordan Hasay of Arroyo Grande, CA, and Kevin Havel of Arlington Heights, IL, were named Verizon Athletes of the meet at Saturday's USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, held at Busse Woods Forest Preserve in Shaumburg, IL.

More than 2,500 athletes age 8 to 18 and 200 teams from all 57 USATF Associations competed for boys' and girls' titles in 10 age divisions in cold, windy and muddy conditions. Team champions also were crowned in those divisions, as well as in a new high school age division. Age divisions were bantam, born in 1994-95 and racing over 3 kilometers; midget, born in 1992-93 and racing 3 km; youth, born in 1990-92 and racing 4 km; intermediate, born in 1988-89 and racing 5 km; young men and women, born in 1986-87 and racing 5 km, and high school, racing 5 km.

Competing in the youth girls division, the 13-year-old Hasay entered the championships as the nation's top runner in her age group. At the 2004 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships this summer, she set national records in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters, and in August she set a pending 13-year-old 5 km road best of 17:05. Saturday in Shaumburg, she opened up a 20-second lead in the first half-mile of the race before cruising to a 24-second victory with a time of 14:19 over 4 km.

Also a youth division athlete, 14-year-old Kevin Havel of Prospect Heights RC earned boys' athlete of the meet honors with his victory, which came not long after he administered the athletes' pledge during Opening Ceremonies for the Championships. The high school freshman won his 4 km divisional race Saturday in 12:50. Havel's victory came on the heels of an impressive, 5th-place finish November 6 at the Illinois High School State 2A Championships.

Other individual winners for girls included Kaylor Murray (Nashville, IL) in the bantam division, 10:58; Nicole Hood (Pleasanton Heat) in midget 10:46; Bria Wetsch (unattached - MN) in intermediate, 18:08; Claire Maduza (unattached - WI) in young women, 18:23; and Maria Vinton (Sanger High) in high school, 22:41. Girls' team champions were Oregon Cross Country in bantam, Transy East TC in midget, DC Red Wings TC in Youth, Buffalo Chips in intermediate and young women, and Sanger High in High School.

Individual boys' winners were Darren Fahy (San Diego SoCal RoadRun) in bantam, 10:27; Jared Kenney (San Diego SoCal Road Run) in midget, 9:53; Bobby Moldovan (Team Bird) in intermediate, 15:43; Alexander Miletich (Unattached - FL) in young men, 15:37; and Jean Ambler (Christian Heritage) in high school, 18:55. Team champions were San Diego SoCal RoadRun in bantam and midget, Oregon Cross Country in youth, Team Idaho in intermediate, Silver State Striders in young men, and Christian Heritage in high school.

For complete results from the 2004 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, visit www.usatf.org.